The Los Angeles Kings moved closer to full strength as they begin a packed six-game road trip over nine days.
Defenseman Drew Doughty and goaltender Darcy Kuemper should be available when the Kings start their sojourn by visiting the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.
Doughty missed the Kings’ 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers with an illness on Tuesday and Kuemper departed that game after eight minutes due to a pinched neck nerve sustained during a net-front collision.
Kuemper dealt with a “dead arm” sensation that did not subside quickly.
“It was just weird. I was just kind of waiting for it to come back, that’s why I was trying to buy some time. And then in the intermission, same thing, but with neck stuff, they want to be precautionary,” Kuemper said. “The next morning, it was feeling better.”
Also joining the Kings on the road trip will be captain Anze Kopitar (lower body) and fellow forward Trevor Moore (upper body). Moore resumed practicing with the team this week while Kopitar also skated.
“They’re going to travel,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “That doesn’t mean that they’re going to play, but they’re going to travel. That’s really positive for us. We’re not going to call anybody up prior. They’re not in. I’m not sure if they’ll play or not. We’ll see. But we’re comfortable with where the roster is at.”
The Kings earned points in five of their past six games (2-1-3). Overall, they are 12-6-6 on the road this season.
Los Angeles gained a 2-1 overtime victory over the Blues on Oct. 21 in St. Louis, with Adrian Kempe collecting a goal and an assist and Kuemper making 17 saves.
The Blues come into Saturday’s contest with a three-game losing streak after suffering a last-minute 3-2 setback to the Stars in Dallas on Friday night.
“When you’re not winning hockey games, the belief in being able to do it and hoping to do it is much different.” St. Louis coach Jim Montgomery said. “I think we’re playing with a lot of hope right now. We have to play with a lot more belief and intent.”
With centers Robert Thomas and Pius Suter on the injured list, Montgomery moved Pavel Buchnevich from wing to center to play with wingers Jordan Kyrou and Jake Neighbours.
Buchnevich recorded a goal and an assist against the Stars as that line found offensive chemistry.
Overall, though, the Blues were outscored 11-3 on their three-game road trip to Edmonton, Winnipeg and Dallas. Now they will try to regroup during their four-game homestand.
“There’s a lot of plays to be made offensively that we are still not finishing on,” Montgomery said. “It’s not the chances that don’t go in the net. It’s the plays that we’re not making to create more chances that are really hurting us.”
Since Jordan Binnington drew the start in goal in Dallas, the Blues likely will turn to Joel Hofer to face the Kings in the second of back-to-back games.
–Field Level Media
