The Los Angeles Kings and head coach Jim Hiller got positive news regarding injury updates for two key players in the lineup roster this regular season late this week, before a key home matchup on Thursday night (Dec. 4) against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Los Angeles Kings could get Warren Foegele and Drew Doughty back from a couple of injuries on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks at home
Both defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Warren Foegele returned to practice earlier this week, according to a report from Zach Dooley of LA Kings Insider on Dec. 3. It sounds like Hiller and the Kings are "hopeful" that Doughty and Foegele will both be able to play in the active roster lineup tonight against the Blackhawks on home ice.
"We’re hopeful for tomorrow and, if not then, I would expect by Saturday. That’s the first time they’ve had a full practice with the team, so they got to go through that process. We’re hopeful."Jim Hiller on Doughty and Foegele
Doughty returned to practice for the Kings this past week in late November this fall, wearing the grey non-contact jersey in drills for the past week or so. But he wore the full non-contact jersey in team drills at practice for the Kings on Wednesday afternoon (Dec. 3).
Foegele also returned to practice for the Kings, wearing the full non-contact jersey in team drills for Hiller and staff on Wednesday at the Toyota Sports Performance Complex in El Segundo, CA. He was reportedly practicing in the grey non-contact jersey for the Kings earlier this week on Tuesday (Dec. 2).
If Doughty and Foegele aren't able to return to the active roster lineup for the Kings tonight against Chicago at Crypto Arena, Hiller and staff reportedly expect them to be ready against the Blackhawks at home on Saturday (Dec. 6) at the very least this upcoming weekend.
Doughty suffered a lower-body injury for the Kings in the regulation road win over the Ottawa Senators in mid-November on Nov. 15, and he's missed the past seven games in late November and early December this month for LA.
Foegele, meanwhile, has missed the past three games due to an upper-body injury for Hiller and the Kings that he suffered Nov. 24 at home against the Senators in a one-goal win at Crypto Arena a couple of weeks ago.
Getting Doughty and Foegele back in the active roster lineup tonight against the Blackhawks could be a big boost for the Kings and Hiller, even if there are some bigger issues that the team is working through this fall in the past few weeks.