The LA Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are on their 2nd game in a back-to-back, after losing 3-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/columbus-blue-jackets] yesterday. The Kings have lost 4 of their last 5 games and are 3 points behind the Edmonton Oilers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/edmonton-oilers] for 3rd in the Pacific. The Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] are coming into this game riding a two-game win streak. They defeated the Sharks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/san-jose-sharks] on Saturday, 4-2, then last night defeated the Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks], 3-1, and they are looking to also go into the winter break with a win. PROJECTED KINGS LINES Here are the projected lines [https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-lineup-projections-2025-26-season] for the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] tonight: Warren Foegele - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe Kevin Fiala - Quinton Byfield - Alex Laferriere Trevor Moore - Alex Turcotte - Andrei Kuzmenko Joel Armia - Samuel Helenius - Corey Perry Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci Pheonix Copley Anton Forsberg PROJECTED KRAKEN LINES Here are the projected lines [https://www.nhl.com/news/nhl-lineup-projections-2025-26-season] for the Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] tonight: Kaapo Kakko - Matty Beniers - Jordan Eberle Eeli Tolvanen - Chandler Stephenson - Frederick Gaudreau Jani Nyman - Shane Wright - Ryan Winterton Tye Kartye - Ben Meyers - Jacob Melanson Ryan Lindgren -- Adam Larsson Ryker Evans -- Jamie Oleksiak Cale Fleury -- Josh Mahura Joey Daccord Philipp Grubauer LINE CHANGES AND INJURIES The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] seem to be keeping the lineup the same as last night. The starting goaltender is unknown, and in the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings]' last back-to-back games, Forsberg started both. The Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] lineup is also similar to last night, but one player missing is defenseman Vince Dunn, who will not be playing tonight after he left the game after getting hit by Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] forward Ross Johnston. The Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] will also be starting Joey Daccord tonight after Philipp Grubauer started yesterday. KEY FACTORS The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] need offence, which is their biggest issue this season. They are averaging 2 goals per game, which ranks 30th in the NHL. On the defensive end, they have been strong; over the last 5 games, the most goals they have allowed is 4, with one of those being an empty-net goal. The Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are desperate for scoring, and aside from Kempe and Fiala, they are not getting the offence they need to win games. Kempe is the only player on the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] with 30 points, and the next closest is Fiala, who has 23 and is the only King other than Kempe with 20-plus points. The big issue that keeps repeating itself is that Quinton Byfield in December has 0 points and a 0 plus/minus. While many players have slumps, the Kings continue to give him playing time, as he is averaging nearly 18 minutes per game this month alone. The Kraken [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken] are coming off a huge win against the Ducks, and the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings] are desperate for a win. If they can generate more offence than normal, this team can be competitive now and when the playoffs start. My prediction for tonight's game is a 3-2 win for the Kings [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings].
