Kings Look to Extend Road Streak vs Capitals

Kings vs Capitals: Road Warriors Face Home Struggles

The Los Angeles Kings (10-5-4) aim to extend their historic road dominance when they face the Washington Capitals (8-8-2) in a pivotal Monday matchup at Capital One Arena. The Kings bring a 9-1-2 road record and an eight-game winning streak on the road into this clash, while the Capitals battle a 2-6-2 slump exacerbated by key injuries.

Key Storylines

Drew Doughty's Absence

The Kings will be without franchise defenseman Drew Doughty, who suffered a lower-body injury after blocking a shot Saturday. Ruled out week-to-week, his absence forces significant defensive adjustments. Jacob Moverare makes his second start of the season, pairing with Cody Ceci on the third pairing. Brian Dumoulin shifts to the right side to join Mikey Anderson, while the Edmundson-Clarke duo remains intact.

"We probably won't play him [Moverare] 17 minutes, but we know what he can do, we're comfortable with him in there," said Kings coach Jim Hiller. "There's nobody better than him [attitude-wise]."

Moverare, who has stayed sharp by treating practices like games, acknowledged the challenge: "I feel really bad for Dewey, he was playing really good hockey when he went down... I just have to trust that and do my best."

Capital Slump Without Dubois

The Capitals continue to struggle without two-way center Pierre-Luc Dubois, who's sidelined 3-4 months after surgery. His departure has created a significant hole in the middle of the lineup, forcing rookie Justin Sourdif into increased responsibility. Sourdif has responded well, winning 61% of face-offs in his last game and providing defensive stability alongside Protas and Wilson.

Despite the slump, Washington controls play statistically, ranking second in the NHL in 5-on-5 shot attempts during their 10-game slide. The challenge? Converting chances into goals.

"The one stat that I look at is basically secondary chances," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery explained. "When we're playing well, we've got five or six of those in a night. That's key because goalies stop 93% of initial shots."

Kuemper vs. His Former Team

Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper faces his former team, having spent 2022-23 and 2023-24 with Washington. He holds a .922 save percentage against the Capitals but enters this matchup motivated to help extend his team's road dominance.

Historical Context

The Kings are seeking to extend their road point streak to 11 games (8-0-2), a feat they've accomplished twice before: 11-0-1 in 2023-24 and 6-0-5 in 1974-75. Meanwhile, Kevin Fiala has dominated this matchup recently, scoring 4 goals and 6 points in six games against Washington since joining the Kings in 2022.

What to Expect

Expect the Kings to leverage their road prowess and depth to overcome Doughty's absence. Washington will rely on defensive structure and hoping for secondary scoring breakthroughs. With both teams trending in opposite directions, this clash could solidify the Kings' status as early-season contenders or signal a potential turning point for the Capitals.