The Los Angeles Kings (3-3-3) and head coach Jim Hiller are as healthy as they've been early this regular season this fall in late October amid this five-game road trip in the West this weekend. Against the Nashville Predators on Saturday evening, the Kings returned center captain Anze Kopitar to the first line forward group up front.
Most recent injury updates for Kyle Burroughs and Anze Kopitar for the Los Angeles Kings this weekend vs. Chicago
Going into Sunday's matchup against the Chicago Blackhawks (4-2-2) on the road in the back end of back-to-back games this weekend, the Kings look to continue to build on a pretty decent start to this five-game Western Conference road trip in the Pacific Division.
The Kings have two wins and five total points in the standings from the road trip's first three games, including a 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators in Nashville yesterday.
Here are two key injury updates for the Kings going into the Sunday matchup on the road on Oct. 26 against the Blackhawks.
Anze Kopitar, C
Kopitar looked pretty good skating on the ice last night for the Kings in the shootout loss to the Preds. In his first game back from the lower-body injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago vs. Minnesota on the road, Kopitar was moving the puck effectively, blocked multiple shots, and had four shots on goal for the Kings.
Even though Kopitar didn't have a point for the Kings last night in the shootout loss vs. the Predators, he was around the net a lot and could've easily had a goal if the puck had rolled differently for Anze on Saturday.
Kopitar led the team in individual scoring chances (five) and high-danger scoring chances (four) last night against the Preds in the offensive zone (per Natural Stat Trick).
"He's definitely filled the hole for us. There's no question. Having him around the team in the locker room, but also on the ice, the faceoffs, the 3-on-4 kill at the end, a large part due to him. He's our leader, and he's basically the beacon for all of our players. You always want to have him around."Jim Hiller on Anze Kopitar
It was great to see Kopitar back in the lineup last night for the Kings. I expect him to start getting on the stat sheet more often this week in the road trip against the Blackhawks and on the road against the San Jose Sharks early this upcoming week.
Kyle Burroughs, D
The Kings have been traveling with all eight defensemen with the team this past week in the West road trip on the plane. Defenseman Kyle Burroughs has been practicing with the team for the past couple of weeks and recovering during team skates on his own for the Kings.
Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider reported on Oct. 25 that Burroughs "continues to skate in a non-contact jersey" for the Kings in team skates and practice in the past week. It sounds like Burroughs has been wearing the red non-contact jersey for the Kings in practice at least for the past 10 days on the ice.
Burroughs remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury for the Kings going into the back end of the back-to-back games this afternoon against the Blackhawks.