Special Teams Important Tonight + Kuemper To Start, Fiala/Zuccarello "week

Key Points:

• The Los Angeles Kings (3-6-2) host the Ottawa Senators (8-5-0) at Crypto.com Arena on October 29, marking the start of a seven-game homestand for the Kings as they seek their first home win of the season.
• The Kings will start goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who has a strong 8-3-2 record against the Senators, while the Senators are without injured forward Warren Foegele and top goaltender Linus Ullmark but may see the return of defenseman Thomas Chabot.
• Special teams remain a major issue for the Kings, ranking near the bottom of the NHL in both power play and penalty kill effectiveness, despite offseason efforts to improve these areas.
• Injuries continue to impact the Kings, with Drew Doughty and Corey Perry expected to return tonight, while Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello remain week-to-week but were seen skating; forward Martin Chromiak was recalled from the AHL but is not expected to play tonight.
• Kings head coach Peter Laviolette highlighted Ottawa’s speed and skill as a challenging test, emphasizing the need for the Kings to be sharp defensively and more aggressive offensively to counter the Senators' fast-paced style.