11/13 Preview – Kuemper in, Lines Adjusted + Starting On Time, Thomas’ Versatility, Homecomings

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (9-5-3) @ Colorado Avalanche (8-8-0)
WHAT: 2024-25 Regular-Season Game
WHEN: Wednesday, November 13 @ 7:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Ball Arena – Denver, CO
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: TNT – AUDIO – ESPN LA App – TWITTER: @dooleylak & @lakings

TONIGHT’S MATCHUP: The Kings conclude a two-game roadtrip here this evening, as they visit the Colorado Avalanche for a Wednesday-night showdown.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: The Kings posted a 1-2-0 record against the Avalanche last season, losing the only game played here at Ball Arena by a 5-1 final score.

Forward Quinton Byfield led the way last season for the Kings with three goals from two games played against the Avalanche, missing the one game played here in Denver. Forwards Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe had two assists apiece in last season’s series.

KINGS VITALS: The Kings are in search of two points tonight in Colorado, to split a short, two-game trip here in November.

Look for goaltender Darcy Kuemper to get the nod again here this evening, with Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller confirming that the veteran gets the start tonight. Kuemper, a former Colorado goaltender, has a lifetime record of 4-3-2 against the Avalanche, with a .916 save percentage and a 2.23 goals-against average.

The Kings held a full-team practice yesterday and an optional morning skate today. Here’s a projected alignment for tonight, based on those two skates –

Moore – Kopitar – Kempe
Foegele – Byfield – Laferriere
Fiala – Danault – Thomas
Lee – Helenius – Lewis
(Jeannot)

Anderson – Gavrikov
Edmundson – Clarke
Jones – Spence
(Englund – Burroughs)

Kuemper / Rittich

The Kings appear set to make one lineup change tonight, with defenseman Caleb Jones checking in, in place of Andreas Englund. Jones played here in Colorado last season, appearing in 25 regular-season games, in addition to three in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jones and Spence were paired together during yesterday’s practice at the University of Denver.

Up front, as discussed yesterday, look for Trevor Moore to start the game on the top line, while Akil Thomas should get an opportunity with Kevin Fiala and Phillip Danault. With only 12 forwards available, as Tanner Jeannot serves the final of his three-game suspension, I’d assume that everyone will play tonight, unless the Kings opt to go with an 11/7 alignment for the first time this season.

COLORADO VITALS: The Avalanche are currently on a four-game homestand, which began with wins over Carolina and Nashville.

Per the Colorado team account, here’s how the Avalanche lined up last time out –

Let the duel begin.#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/RQfWXDym4p

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) November 12, 2024

Colorado will be without forwards Jonathan Drouin and Miles Wood tonight. Evan Rawel of the Denver Gazette reported that both skated yesterday, in full-contact jerseys, but neither will be ready to face the Kings. Former Kings forward T.J. Tynan was recalled from AHL-Colorado this morning and could play for the Avalanche. Tynan played in two games with Los Angeles in December 2021 and was the captain of the AHL’s Ontario Reign over the last two seasons.

Storyline Of The Day – Start On Time
Can’t play a full 60 minutes if you don’t start on time.

“It’s a hard league to come back from and that’s why it’s so important to make sure you’re ready to go, right from the start,” goaltender Darcy Kuemper said. “When you fall behind, you can play really well, but it’s really hard to crawl out of [that hole].”

The Kings had a season-high 75 shot attempts at 5-on-5 in Calgary, but that didn’t really tell the tale of the game we watched.

The style of hockey shown in the second half of the game, executed for a full game, would be very effective. It was very effective once the Kings got going. Overall, the Kings are among the NHL’s best defensive teams and they’ve shown that they can create offense as well throughout their lineup. When they play the right way, it’s a team that has found a lot of success.

“I think we found our legs halfway through that game, it took us a while to get going,” defenseman Joel Edmundson said. “When we’re all on the same page, we’re a good hockey team, but we’ve got to be on the same page more often. It’s going to take a full 60 minutes tonight to do that.

Starting strongly as a team is an interesting notion, because it mostly comes down to individuals getting themselves ready, and then being ready within the team structure.

It’s an area that falls player to player, to do the things they need to do to be prepared. It was not strategy that let the team down in Calgary and the players and coaches have said as much. When the Kings are at their best, they’re playing fast, making quick decisions and that leads to things like 11 goals from the blueline, or nights like Saturday when all four lines got on the scoresheet. When it’s not there, it leads to things like 37 shots blocked by the Flames, when plays are just a split second off.

Player to player, everyone is different, but everyone understands the need to do what they need to do to get themselves prepared to play. For Edmundson and forward Akil Thomas, both players like to get engaged physically in a game to know they’re ready to go. Something that will be a point of emphasis tonight, as the Kings look to start faster in Colorado.

Edmundson – Take a hit or give a hit, that usually gets me going. If you can get a shot on net or block a shot, just anything to get the fight going, that’s what I [try] to do.

Thomas – For me, I try to just get a couple of hits under my belt, it makes me just feel involved. If I’m hitting, it means I’m moving my feet, so usually that’s my ideal recipe to start.

Whatever that recipe is, whatever gets each individual going, the Kings know they have to deliver earlier than they did in Calgary.

We’ve seen what that looks like and everyone know it will be needed tonight, to get something from this game.

“We have to play the full 60 minutes, when we do that, we’re a really good team,” defenseman Jordan Spence added “I don’t think we can win a lot of games if we only come in the third period. We’ve got to start from the get go against Colorado.”

3 To Watch For –
– Feels like Thomas has been on a different line every game as of late.

Tonight, he looks set to play with Phillip Danault and Kevin Fiala on what lined up as the third line during yesterday’s practice. Thomas has played with Danault before, but not a ton with Fiala, as he’s usually been the third member of a line with Danault and Trevor Moore, who is elevated in the lineup tonight.

For Thomas, he views his versatility as a point of pride, as he moves around the lineup.

“I want to take pride in that, to be able to play up and down, to change, so I’m just trying to find consistency in my game,” he said. “I know it’s difficult sometimes doing that, but that’s what I’m trying to work on and I want to be the same player every night, regardless of how much I play or who I play with.”

With Danault and Moore, it’s a line that has the tools to be effective. Danault and Thomas are both effective workers when they’re on their game, which should create space for Fiala.

That’s the focal point for number 26 in tonight’s game.

“I just want to use my speed and make space for them to do their thing with the puck,” Thomas added. “If you can get Kevin the puck in space, good things will happen.”

– Not the most notable homecoming on the Kings schedule, but Darcy Kuemper will be in net tonight in Colorado, after winning a championship here with the Avalanche in 2022.

“It was a lot of fun here, a lot of great memories,” Kuemper recalled. “It’s always fun coming back, it brings back those feelings.”

The homecoming for forward Trevor Moore came yesterday, when the Kings practiced at Denver University.

Moore was a Pioneer for three seasons and was selected as a second-team All American in 2015. He said he was back over the summer for an alumni event, but it was cool to be back on the ice as well during yesterday’s skate. Moore’s helmet had Denver stickers in place of the Kings stickers during yesterday’s practice. Hopefully he got the NIL money.

“It’s awesome [to be back], I loved being here,” Moore said. “It’s a really special place and I can’t say enough good things about it.”

Homecoming for Trev at practice today 💛❤️ pic.twitter.com/BiZh6vuAaM

— LA Kings (@LAKings) November 12, 2024

– Lastly, TNT broadcast tonight, so expect an even later than usual puck drop.

8 PM local start is probably more like 8:20, so 7:20 back in Los Angeles.

Nick Nickson and Daryl Evans will have the audio-only call on the ESPN LA App. Could be one of the final times we see those two guys together for a radio broadcast, so be sure to take it in if you get the chance!