The Los Angeles Kings host the Dallas Stars for the second-of-three meetings this season, with LA picking up a 3-2 regulation win back on December 4, 2024.
The Kings are coming off a 6-3 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Monday where Forward Kevin Fiala led the team with two goals on four SOG.
Dallas is currently on a three-game California road trip, coming off a 2-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.
In their last ten meetings, the Kings are 3-6-1 against the Stars, outscored 20-33.
STAR-CY KUEMPER
In eighteen career games against the Stars, Kings Goaltender Darcy Kuemper holds a 9-6-3 record with a 2.75 GAA and .915 SV%.
Kuemper hasn’t faced the Stars since October 27, 2022—a shutout loss. He does have one career shutout over Dallas—a 3-0 victory on January 30, 2018, during his first stint with the Kings.
It’s probably time to work David Rittich into a few games. But it’s hard to argue against riding with the hot hand of Kuemper.
This season, Kuemper is 8-1-1 at Crypto.com Arena with a 1.99 GAA and .923 SV%. Rittich has similar numbers, 8-2-0 at home, this season, with a 2.11 GAA, .912 SV%, and a win over the Stars to boot.
RIDING HARLEY
The Dallas Stars will be without a couple of their premiere Defensemen.
We have loaned Kyle Capobianco to the @TexasStars and recalled Kyle McDonald and Christian Kyrou.
Additionally, Mason Marchment has been placed on IR, retroactive to December 31.
GM Jim Nill has announced that Nils Lundkvist underwent season-ending shoulder surgery.
Both Nils… pic.twitter.com/fXHQdLUCfZ
— Dallas Stars (@DallasStars) February 1, 2025
Defenseman Nils Lundkvist was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) on February 1, 2025, and it has since been reported that he’ll be out for the rest of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery.
Defenseman Miro Heiskanen underwent knee surgery on February 4, 2025, and is listed as month-to-month.
Dallas recently acquired Defenseman Cody Ceci from the San Jose Sharks to fill the gap and stop the bleeding.
Expect the Stars to lean heavy on Defenseman Thomas Harley who leads the team in +/- with a +26 rating, second in TOI (behind Heiskanen) averaging 22:34 per game.
FRONT-TO-BACK
This season, the Kings have a successful record in the second game of a back-to-back (5-2-0). In the first game of a back-to-back, they are evenly split (3-3-1). The Kings face the Anaheim Ducks tomorrow night.
In the seven first-half games, this season, the Kings have gone to three overtime periods; Kuemper in net for all-three of those contests.
Puck drop is slated for 7:35 PM PST. You can watch the game on television via the FanDuel Sports Network or listen live with the ESPN LA app.
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