The Los Angeles Kings are gearing up for a crucial home-and-home series against the Anaheim Ducks, with the first game tonight at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to the Dallas Stars, which snapped their winning streak. The team's morale was low after the game, with players expressing frustration and a sense of urgency to improve their performance. The Kings' head coach, Jim Hiller, has been working on addressing the team's issues, emphasizing the importance of intensity and accountability. The focus is on channeling that frustration into tonight's game, with the hope of turning a loss into a win. The Kings' lineup is set to feature a strong defensive core, with Brandt Clarke and Brian Dumoulin leading the way. Forward Alex Laferriere is also expected to make an impact, having scored a hat trick in a previous game against the Ducks. The team's goaltenders, Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg, are prepared to split the starts, with Kuemper set to play tonight and Forsberg tomorrow. The Ducks, on the other hand, are coming off a nine-game losing streak, but they managed to snap it with a victory over the Dallas Stars. Anaheim's top offensive players, Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, and Troy Terry, are expected to return to the lineup, although Carlsson is dealing with a lower-body injury. The Kings' forward lines are a topic of discussion, with the team experimenting with different combinations. The defensive pairs are also under scrutiny, as the Anderson/Doughty duo has been struggling lately, with a -5 rating since the start of the new year. The Kings are also giving some thought to their penalty-killing unit, with the return of forward Joel Armia, who has been a key player in that area. The team's most dangerous player, Kevin Fiala, has been on fire, leading the Kings in points since January. The Kings are determined to turn their fortunes around and make a push for the playoffs, starting with tonight's game against the Ducks.
