The Los Angeles Kings are coming off their worst loss of the season after allowing five goals in the third period to the San Jose Sharks. It doesn't get any easier, in fact substantially harder, as they return home for a game against the NHL-best Winnipeg Jets.
After a performance like that, head coach Jim Hiller has to make some changes and he appears set to do just that according to Zach Dooley with the LA Kings Insider. One of those changes is on the top line as Warren Foegele appears set to step in next to Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe.
That spot has been pretty much a revolving door most of the season with players like Alex Turcotte, Alex Laferriere, and Quinton Byfield all getting extended looks there. This is Foegele's first season with the Kings and through 22 games has six goals and five assists but hasn't had a goal in six games.
The rest of the lines were also shuffled with Quinton Byfield now on the second line with Trevor Moore and also Tanner Jeannot, who has primarily been on the fourth line. The Kings' third line will be Kevin Fiala, who has not scored a goal in eight games, Samuel Helenius, and Alex Laferriere.
On that final line for the forwards, it will be Alex Turcotte, Phillip Danault, and Trevor Lewis. As for the defense, it looks relatively unchanged from the last few games.
David Rittich once again in net for the Los Angeles Kings
In addition to the defense, there was no change made for who will be in net for the Los Angeles Kings as that once again will be David Rittich. This isn't really surprising even though Rittich gave up seven goals to the Kings because they don't really have another option.
The only other goalie currently available is Erik Portillo, who was called up when Darcy Kuemper was placed on injured reserve. However, Portillo has not stepped into an NHL game yet in his career and it would be hard to imagine the Kings would want his first game to be against a team like the Winnipeg Jets.