The Hockey News’ Derek Lee previews the Ducks’ matchup against the Kings.

In what’s become a seasonal tradition, the Ducks will play a matinee game on Black Friday. Over the years, the matchup has shifted from the Chicago Blackhawks to several opponents. The Ducks will face the Kings on Black Friday for the second consecutive season.

The Ducks are coming off a 5-2 win against the Seattle Kraken in Seattle, the second game of a home-and-home series against their division foes. The win puts them at .500 heading into today’s game.

The Kings are coming off a 4-1 win on Wednesday over the Winnipeg Jets. They are currently third in the Pacific Division and could take second with a win today and a Calgary Flames loss.

Leo Carlsson is not expected to play today after suffering an upper-body injury in Monday’s loss to the Kraken. He did not travel with the team to Seattle and has not practiced since leaving Monday’s game.

Cam Fowler (upper-body) did travel with the team to Seattle, though he did not play. During Wednesday’s broadcast, Ducks play-by-play commentator John Ahlers mentioned that Fowler is close to a return. The veteran defenseman has been participating in practice over the past week.

Ducks Projected Lines

Trevor Zegras - Mason McTavish - Alex Killorn
Frank Vatrano - Ryan Strome - Troy Terry
Cutter Gauthier - Isac Lundeström - Brett Leason
Ross Johnson - Jansen Harkins - Sam Colangelo

Jackson LaCombe - Olen Zellweger
Pavel Mintyukov - Radko Gudas
Brian Dumoulin - Drew Helleson

Lukáš Dostál (projected)

Kings Projected Lines

Warren Foegele - Anže Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Trevor Moore - Quinton Byfield - Tanner Jeannot
Alex Turcotte - Phillip Danault - Trevor Lewis
Kevin Fiala - Samuel Helenius - Alex Laferriere

Mikey Anderson - Vladislav Gavrikov
Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
Jacob Moverare - Jordan Spence

Erik Portillo (projected)