Los Angeles Kings lose key forward before Rangers clash
Photo credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
Adrian Kempe is out with a lower-body injury, forcing head coach D.J. Smith to reshuffle the Los Angeles Kings lineup hours before puck drop against the Rangers.
The news landed Monday evening as the Kings prepared for a tough road game at Madison Square Garden.
Kempe had been one of the few steady sources of offense lately. The winger produced 10 points in his last 8 games before the injury forced him out of the lineup.
That surge came at a key moment for Los Angeles, a team fighting to stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race.
Through 66 games this season, the Kings sit at 27-24-15 for 69 points. That leaves them fourth in the Wild Card chase and five points behind the final playoff spot.
The margin for error is already razor thin. Losing a top-six winger right now only tightens the pressure on Smith's bench.
D.J. Smith forced into quick lineup decisions
Without Kempe, Smith had to juggle the forward lines minutes before puck drop in New York.
The projected top line featured Artemi Panarin skating with Anze Kopitar, a combination designed to keep offensive pressure coming despite the absence.
Further down the lineup, young forwards Alex Turcotte and Mathieu Joseph were both dressed, with one expected to jump into the top nine depending on late bench decisions.
That's a significant shift. Kempe had 26 goals and 58 points in 66 games this season, production that normally drives Los Angeles' transition attack and power play touches.
Take that out of the lineup and the ripple effect hits every unit.
It means heavier offensive responsibility for Kopitar and Byfield, while depth wingers like Laferriere or Moore could see extra shifts.
The timing couldn't be worse either.
Los Angeles entered the night with a -24 goal differential, a sign that scoring depth has already been an issue during long stretches of the season.
Now the Kings have to generate offense without one of their most reliable shooters.
Smith's decision behind the bench tonight may reveal a lot about how he plans to navigate the final stretch.
Because if Kempe misses more than one game, this suddenly becomes a major storyline in the Kings' playoff chase.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 16|40 ANSWERS Los Angeles Kings lose key forward before Rangers clash Will the Kings stay in the playoff race if Adrian Kempe misses time ? | ||
| Yes | 7 | 17.5 % |
| No | 33 | 82.5 % |
| List of polls | ||