The Kings head to New York hoping to turn a road‑trip win into a back‑to‑back triumph, but a lingering upper‑body injury to forward Quinton Byfield could force further adjustments.
Key points
- Quinton Byfield’s availability remains uncertain; Erik Haula is listed as his likely replacement for tonight.
- Darcy Kuemper has posted strong recent numbers, suggesting a return to Vezina‑caliber play.
- The Kings hold a perfect points streak against the Islanders over their last ten meetings.
- The defensive pairing of Brandt Clarke and Erik Gustafsson is expected to stay together, with Cody Ceci likely scratched.
After opening a five‑game road swing with a victory, the Los Angeles Kings are looking to string together consecutive wins when they travel to UBS Arena to face the New York Islanders on Thursday night.
Center Quinton Byfield, who left Tuesday’s game early with an upper‑body issue, has been listed as day‑to‑day. Coach Peter Laviolette offered no firm timetable, and the team recalled forward Jared Wright from Ontario as a precaution. In the projected lineup, Erik Haula is slated as a placeholder until a final decision is made during warm‑ups.
Injury report and lineup changes
The Kings’ offensive spark comes from Artemi Panarin and Adrian Kempe, each posting three points in the last outing. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper appears to be returning to form, posting a save percentage above .930 in three of his last four starts, including a 30‑save performance on Tuesday.
Defensively, the coaching staff is expected to keep the Brandt Clarke‑Erik Gustafsson pairing together, the league’s top‑ranked duo by 5v5 expected‑goal share through Oct 19. Cody Ceci, who was a healthy scratch in the previous game, is likely to sit again to preserve the pair’s chemistry.
Recent performance and key stats
Historically, the Kings have dominated the Islanders, earning points in each of their last ten meetings (9‑0‑1) and outscoring New York 36‑18. Panarin, who scored his first Kings goal against the Islanders last March, now holds a 1.19 points‑per‑game average against the team, second only to Sidney Crosby among active players with 40+ games.
Puck drop is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will be broadcast on ESPN+. A Kings radio feed is also available through the ESPN LA app. Further broadcast details for the 2026‑27 season are linked on the Mayor’s Manor site.
Broadcast and streaming options
With the injury situation still fluid, the Kings will rely on their healthy stars to sustain the momentum built on the road, while the Islanders look to capitalize on home‑ice advantage.
Reader questions
When does the Kings vs. Islanders game start?
The puck is scheduled to drop at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Thursday.
How can I watch the game?
The matchup will be broadcast on ESPN+ and a Kings radio feed is available via the ESPN LA app.
Which players are likely to be scratched for the Kings?
Forward Quinton Byfield and forward Ward are listed as likely scratches, while defenseman Cody Ceci is also expected to sit.
Source: mayorsmanor.com
