The Los Angeles Kings are battling a sluggish power play that ranks dead last in the NHL—could a bold new strategy ignite their offense and turn the season around?
As we gear up for an electrifying clash at Crypto.com Arena, tonight's matchup between the Kings and the Ducks promises more than just hockey action; it's a chance to see if fresh ideas can spark a comeback. Fans, buckle up—this is the kind of game where underdogs can roar back, and the Kings are hungry for points after a tough stretch.
Who: Los Angeles Kings (15-12-9) facing off against the Anaheim Ducks (21-14-2)
What: Game 37 out of 82 in the 2025 NHL regular season
When: Saturday, December 27, kicking off at 6:00 PM Pacific Time
Where: The vibrant Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA
How to Follow: Catch the live video on the FanDuel Sports Network, tune into the audio feed, or listen via ESPN LA 710, the ESPN LA App, and the LA Kings App. Stay updated on Twitter through @dooleylak (http://twitter.com/dooleylak) and @lakings (http://twitter.com/lakings).
Tonight marks the Kings' return to the ice following the NHL's holiday hiatus, and they're hosting the Anaheim Ducks in what’s dubbed the second "Freeway Faceoff" of the season—a fun nickname for this local rivalry that always brings high energy and intense competition.
Head-to-Head History: In their previous encounter back in November, the Kings' defense shone brightly, racking up six points altogether. Defenseman Joel Edmundson netted a goal, while Brandt Clarke and Brian Dumoulin each contributed multiple assists, showcasing their defensive prowess. On the offensive side, forward Kevin Fiala added a goal, bringing his career total against Anaheim to 15 since 2020. That's impressive, as it ties him for third in the entire NHL, just behind Adrian Kempe and Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl, who each have 16. This stat highlights how lethal these players have been in this matchup, making tonight's game even more intriguing for fans who love tracking individual rivalries.
Kings Update: The Kings hit the rink for a full-team morning skate today, fresh off three days of rest during the holiday break. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is still sidelined with an upper-body injury from the past four games, so keep an eye on Anton Forsberg to take the net tonight. Forsberg's performance in December has been solid, boasting a .910 save percentage and a 2.80 goals-against average, even though his record stands at 1-3-1. For context, a save percentage like that means he's stopping about 91% of shots on goal, which is decent in the high-stakes world of NHL goaltending, where the average is around 90-91%.
To give you a visual, here's how the Kings lined up in their last game against Seattle on Tuesday—
Tonight’s @LAKings (https://twitter.com/LAKings?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Line Combinations –
Laferriere – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Byfield – Foegele
Fiala – Turcotte – Kuzmenko
Armia – Helenius – Perry
Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci
Copley
Forsberg
— Jared Shafran (@jaredshafran) December 24, 2025 (https://twitter.com/jaredshafran/status/2003659432287436864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
This setup mirrors the 18 skaters from Tuesday's defeat to Columbus, with some forward lines shuffled to boost scoring chances. If the Kings tweak things further, forward Jeff Malott and defenseman Jacob Moverare are ready to step in off the bench.
Ducks Update: The Ducks enter the game tied for the top spot in their division, but they've dropped five of their last seven contests, so they're coming in with some momentum to regain. According to their official team account, here's their lineup from the Monday game against the Kraken—
Leo Carlsson is sidelined with a lower-body injury. Here's our lineup: #FlyTogether (https://twitter.com/hashtag/FlyTogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/2OB9tC99b7 (https://t.co/2OB9tC99b7)
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 23, 2025 (https://twitter.com/AnaheimDucks/status/2003299522965807351?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Their top center, Leo Carlsson, sat out their final game pre-break due to that lower-body issue but is slated to return tonight in LA. Carlsson contributed three points (one goal and two assists) in November's matchup. Plus, Anaheim's defense scored twice in that game, with Owen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov each finding the net in their shootout win—proving the Ducks can score from unexpected spots.
Key Storyline Today – A Fresh Twist on the Kings' Power Play
Here's where things get really interesting: the Kings are shaking up their power-play approach in a way that could revolutionize how they capitalize on man-advantage opportunities.
Forget seeing Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala teamed up on the same unit—this marks the first time this season that hasn't happened, to the best of my knowledge. It started during Tuesday's game against the Kraken and looks set to continue tonight, especially after this morning's skate where the whole team practiced together. What emerged were two distinct, evenly balanced units, designed to foster competition.
Doughty – Kempe – Armia – Kopitar – Laferriere
Clarke – Fiala – Kuzmenko – Byfield – Perry
The Kings are currently mired at 31st in the NHL with a 13.5% success rate on the power play, so this change is a logical step to break out of that rut. Coach Jim Hiller emphasized the idea of "competition" this morning—there's no designated top unit (PP1) or secondary one (PP2) anymore. Instead, the units are balanced with top talent on both sides. Whichever group scores first gets to lead off future power plays. For Hiller, it's straightforward: let the scoring decide to motivate a struggling group.
"[We're] aiming to create more rivalry between the two squads and see if we can't get one heating up," Hiller explained. "When you start scoring, you keep going; there's no first or second team—it's whoever performs that earns the prime spot."
I particularly appreciate how he stressed the word "earn." It's a reminder that success in hockey often comes from hard work and results, not just talent.
My hunch is Kopitar's group might kick things off due to his faceoff dominance, but if they don't score, expect even splits until one unit proves superior by creating more chances or netting goals. This method feels refreshingly simple compared to typical setups, especially for a team at the bottom of the power-play leaderboard with that 13.5% clip.
"If a unit catches fire and racks up a few goals in a row, we'll keep them rolling—that's just how it works," Clarke added. "Right now, we're mixing things up, experimenting, and seeing what sticks. Both groups have elite skill, so we're focused on giving our best. If one gets hot, they'll stay in the lead."
Each squad features a star defenseman like Clarke or Doughty anchoring the point, a key scorer (Kempe or Fiala) poised for shots, plus a center, a right-handed winger on the flank, and another righty crashing the net. It's symmetrical in nearly every aspect, promoting a consistent approach no matter who's on the ice.
"This boils down to keeping it uncomplicated," Laferriere noted. "Mixing it up sends a signal to focus on basics: shooting the puck and causing chaos around the net. Both units now have top guys in front of the goal, so if we get rubber around there, positive outcomes follow. The switch-up encourages us to simplify and execute."
This can't hurt, and at minimum, it's a novel experiment to watch when the Kings go on the 5-on-4 tonight.
But here's where it gets controversial... Is this fair to the players? Some might argue that pitting units against each other creates unnecessary pressure, potentially leading to internal rivalries that could fracture team chemistry. Others say it's brilliant for motivation—what do you think? Does rewarding scoring with "earned" opportunities truly boost performance, or could it backfire by making players too focused on outdoing each other rather than the opponent?
Three Key Points to Monitor –
– The ongoing saga of Darcy Kuemper's return.
Kuemper joined the team for morning skate today, after starting goalie Anton Forsberg finished. Earlier in the week, he was back on the ice for one-on-one drills with goaltending coach Mike Buckley—the first time he'd faced shots since his upper-body injury knocked him out. Today, he worked with a larger group but not in the full session, sticking to extras after most skaters departed.
Logistically, the Kings have an open spot on the roster to activate him without sending backup Pheonix Copley down to the AHL. They can do this even with the roster freeze in effect until tomorrow. That said, it won't be tonight—Forsberg is set to start.
"It's tough to predict beyond seeing more progress, like full shooting sessions and practices getting closer," Hiller shared today. "I won't overcommit, as injuries can be unpredictable."
We'll keep watching. Kuemper is crucial, especially with the team's offensive struggles. With a grueling schedule ahead, the Kings need him back soon—but only when fully healthy to avoid setbacks.
– Those three days off offered a valuable mental breather for the Kings.
"It's been a tough grind, as we've all seen with our record and the close losses," Hiller remarked. "This break was helpful for everyone. We're recharged and ready to go."
The team has dropped six of their last seven games, managing just two goals or fewer in all, including a narrow 2-1 victory over Tampa Bay. Stepping away from the rink did wonders, it seems. Proof comes tonight, of course.
But this morning, the vibe was positive.
"It was great to debrief and unplug from hockey," Clarke said. "Jumping back in tonight will be exciting and high-intensity—we're eager to dominate these Ducks and elevate our play. Fingers crossed for a strong result."
It was family time, no practices or games for any of the 32 NHL teams. Hopefully, this reset benefits the Kings most, potentially turning things around mentally against Anaheim.
– And this is the part most people miss... A sneak peek at an upcoming fan event! I'll be sending out an email soon about our Insider Suite Night on Monday, with payment details ready. As a quick reminder, it's in the Sky Box at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, January 14, for the game against Vegas. Tickets are $56 per person. If you're interested, shoot me an email at zdooley@lakings.com if you haven't already! I've got your previous messages and will respond soon. We've had tons of buzz already—looking forward to another memorable night!
Catch the Kings and Ducks tonight at 6 PM at Crypto.com Arena. This kicks off a challenging stretch for LA, and securing two points here would be a fantastic start.
What are your thoughts on this power-play shakeup? Do you believe it will finally get the Kings' offense clicking, or is it risky to experiment mid-season? Share your opinions in the comments—does this 'earn your spot' approach foster healthy competition, or could it divide the team? I'm curious to hear your takes!
