Jason Wernegreen 
The LA Kings held an optional skate this morning heading into tonight’s matchup against the Edmonton Oilers as the Kings return from the all-star break!
Who Was There:
The LA Kings sent three players down to AHL Ontario over the all-star break. Those three players were forwards Alex Turcotte and Samuel Fagemo, along with defenseman Brandt Clarke. Following the AHL all-star game, just Turcotte and Clarke were recalled to Los Angeles. Turcotte is expected to slot back into his fourth-line role, which he scored his first career goal during the final game before the break. Clarke on the other hand, was one of the extra skaters on the ice this morning, along with Arthur Kaliyev, projecting them as tonight’s scratches. Additionally, goaltender David Rittich was the first off this morning; he will be between the pipes for the Kings.
David Rittich off first this morning, making him tonight’s projected starter against Edmonton.
— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) February 10, 2024
This morning’s skate was lightly attended, but given the scratches, we can presume the lines to look like this.
Forwards:
Byfield – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Danault – Fiala
Laferriere – Dubois – Anderson-Dolan
Grundstrom – Turcotte – Lewis
Defenseman:
Anderson-Doughty
Gavrikov-Roy
Englund-Spence
Goaltenders:
Rittich
Talbot
Last Meeting:
The LA Kings and Oilers met most recently just before the New Year struck. The Oilers edged out a win against Los Angeles by a score of 3-2, with a shootout deciding which team earned the second point of the night. Forward Adrian Kempe led the Kings with two points in the game, starting with an assist on a Kevin Fiala power-play tally, and then scoring at even-strength later in the first period. Connor McDavid (unsurprisingly) led the way for Edmonton in the matchup with two points of his own to rival Kempe’s. McDavid had a goal and assist in the game, with the goal coming on the power-play.
Return of the King:
Viktor Arvidsson has been taking skates for your LA Kings periodically throughout the last few weeks. Yesterday morning, Arvidsson was spotted in a white full-contact jersey at morning skate for the first time all season. The road to recovery has not been easy for Arvidsson, and he will not find his way into the lineup tonight. However, he will be going with the team on the coming road trip, and the Kings are hopeful he will be good to go at some point throughout the four-game stretch. Arvidsson is a huge piece for the Kings, and in theory, this could be the biggest addition LA makes this season. He gives the Kings another right-handed shot in the lineup, and more importantly, on the power play.
Viktor Arvidsson is skating in a regular white jersey as today's practice gets underway.
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) February 9, 2024
Kings face the Oilers at home tonight for the final time this year. However, the Kings will still make two trips to Edmonton in the upcoming months. The puck drops at 7 PM PST tonight for Jim Hiller‘s head coaching debut. Be loud Kings fans, and Go Kings Go.