The Los Angeles Kings embark on a two-game road trip, beginning with their first matchup of the season against the Winnipeg Jets this afternoon at the Canada Life Centre.
Last season, forward Adrian Kempe was a dominant force against the Jets, tallying six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in three games. His performance ranked second in the NHL for scoring against Winnipeg and included an overtime game-winning goal in the teams’ only meeting at Canada Life Centre, a 2-1 Kings victory in January.
The Kings are expected to field a lineup similar to their last game in Vegas, with a likely change in goal. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is anticipated to make the start. Kuemper has a strong career record against the Jets, with an 8-2-0 record, a .920 save percentage, and a 2.61 goals-against average. He secured victories in both of his starts against Winnipeg last year. Defenseman Jacob Moverare and forward Samuel Helenius are also with the team and available to play.
Winnipeg opened its season on Thursday with a 5-4 home loss to the Dallas Stars. Their lineup featured three former Kings forwards: Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo, and Tanner Pearson. Vilardi, who recorded an assist in the loss, has historically played well against the team that drafted him in 2017, accumulating six points (2 goals, 4 assists) in five career games.
A key storyline for the Kings is the resurgence of forward Trevor Moore, who has become one of the league’s most dangerous shorthanded threats. Since his Kings debut on February 8, 2020, Moore’s 12 shorthanded goals are the second-most in the NHL. His recent goal in Vegas was a crucial momentum-shifter, cutting a 5-3 deficit in the third period.
Using a powerful speed burst that approached 21 MPH, Moore outpaced Vegas forward William Karlsson to create a breakaway opportunity. His quick-release shot, a hallmark of his 31-goal season in 2023-24, showcased the combination of speed and precision that makes him effective.
“We saw that in the preseason, that Moorsie is just really moving again,” Head Coach Jim Hiller said. “Glad to see him rewarded because he’s been skating and been dangerous since the word go. What a great goal.”
Longtime centerman Phillip Danault echoed the sentiment. “He’s healthy and skating well, great shot and a smart player on the ice. That’s the real Moorsie.”
Three players to watch in today’s game include:
Quinton Byfield: The forward’s skating has been exceptional. According to NHL Edge data, Byfield has recorded 11 speed bursts of 20+ MPH in the first two games, a total surpassed only by Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. His dynamic skating was on full display in Vegas, where he scored a goal and assisted on the game-tying goal.
Jeff Malott: After scoring his first career NHL goal against Vegas on Wednesday, Malott returns to Winnipeg to face the organization where he made his NHL debut in the 2021-22 season. Malott is the all-time leading goal scorer for the Jets’ AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose. In an interesting twist, this will be his first NHL game at the Canada Life Centre, as his debut with the Jets was on the road.
Broadcast Team: Today’s game marks the regular-season debut for play-by-play announcer John Kelly, who joins analyst Jim Fox on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast.
