Jim Hiller Makes Another Tweak To The Kings’ Power Play Despite Three-Game Goal Streak

Andre Leal

Nov 11, 2025

Partner

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Andre Leal

Nov 11, 2025

Partner

After three straight games with a power-play goal, Los Angeles Kings head coach Jim Hiller reshuffles the team's top unit again.

The Los Angeles Kings have experienced trouble on the power play to start the season. From opening night on Oct. 7 to Nov. 2, the Kings had the 25th-worst power-play conversion rate. In 37 opportunities, they scored six power-play goals to that point, going 16.2 percent on the man advantage.

However, when Los Angeles took on the Winnipeg Jets on Nov. 4, the team’s top unit was tinkered with as they replaced Andrei Kuzmenko with Corey Perry. Since then, the Kings have played three games and recorded a power-play marker in each of those contests.

Corey Perry, the Los Angeles Kings' joint-leading goal scorer, will be joining the team's top power-play unit, a much-needed alteration. Is this the change the Kings need to end their power-play scoring drought?

thehockeynews.comLos Angeles Kings Make Much-Needed Change To Top Power-Play UnitCorey Perry, the Los Angeles Kings' joint-leading goal scorer, will be joining the team's top power-play unit, a much-needed alteration. Is this the change the Kings need to end their power-play scoring drought?

Despite that, the Kings' head coach, Jim Hiller, believes that it’s time to make another tweak to their first power-play unit.

Hiller is putting Kuzmenko back on the top power play, swapping with Quinton Byfield, who will now grace the second unit.

Kevin Fiala, Andrei Kuzmenko and Quinton Byfield (Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images)

Los Angeles’ bench boss pleads that this is an alteration that will get the best out of both players.

"We feel that's his great strength that gets him going in his overall game...try to get him some more touches there and see if that can translate,” Hiller said of Kuzmenko.

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thehockeynews.comReport: Los Angeles Kings Not In Adrian Kempe’s Ballpark As Negotiations Are Back OnThe Los Angeles Kings and Adrian Kempe have reportedly resumed contract talks. However, it still seems that the two parties are on the same level just yet.

As for Byfield, he doesn’t see this change as a negative decision for the 23-year-old center.

"Want to put the puck in his hands....he's a lefty. We got (Doughty) as a righty. I really want those two to be the shooters," the Kings coach told reporters at Tuesday morning's skate ahead of the team’s clash with the Montreal Canadiens.

This suggests that Byfield and defenseman Drew Doughty will work the right and left flanks, respectively, on the second unit. That leaves D-man Brandt Clarke as the quarterback, and Alex Laferriere and Phillip Danault as the net-front presence and in the slot.

While the Los Angeles Kings are looking to hang on to Brandt Clarke, he still remains a pending RFA and that has attracted some customers across the NHL.

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For Los Angeles’ top unit, the formation shouldn’t change too much, but Kuzmenko's substitution for Byfield will add more balance between left-handed and right-handed players on the ice.

The Kings are looking to continue their streak of power-play goals to four games against the Canadiens.

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