body), Byfield "preparing" to play, Ward Expected

Key Points:

• The Los Angeles Kings (2-5-2) face the New York Rangers (7-5-1) at Madison Square Garden on Monday, October 26, marking their first back-to-back set of the season. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start for the Kings, boasting a strong career record against the Rangers.
• The Kings are implementing changes to their power-play unit, with defenseman Erik Gustafsson running the point alongside forwards Adrian Kempe, Artemi Panarin, Alex Laferriere, and Quinton Byfield, aiming to improve their struggling special teams performance.
• Quinton Byfield is hopeful to play tonight after participating in the morning skate, while Mats Zuccarello remains out due to an upper-body injury, impacting the Kings' offensive depth.
• The Kings' goaltending duo, Darcy Kuemper and Anton Forsberg, has been a key factor in their recent success, combining for a .940 save percentage over the last three games and strong performances against high-danger chances.
• The New York Rangers remain undefeated at home this season (6-0-0) and have one of the NHL's highest home scoring rates, presenting a significant challenge for the Kings as they look to improve their offensive consistency and special teams.