Drew Doughty, Corey Perry skip warmups in Chicago

Peter Laviolette hinted at it before the game, saying the Rangers win left the Kings with a couple of bumps and bruises.

Zach Dooley

@DooleyLAK

Couple of “bumps and bruises” for the @LAKings from last night’s win, so there could be a lineup change based on that. Quinton Byfield not included in that group. Peter Laviolette said Byfield “came through it great” after a “really strong game”. All good for 5️⃣5️⃣ tonight.

The good news is in there too. Quinton Byfield was not part of that group, and Laviolette said he came through a really strong game great. So the hope that a top-6 center might be banged up ended before warmups started. The players in question turned out to be 2 veterans.

Zach Dooley

@DooleyLAK

Drew Doughty and Corey Perry not on the ice for warmups. Assume that is what Peter Laviolette was referring to pre-game. Would expect Cody Ceci and Jared Wright to both check in against Chicago.

Skipping warmups doesn't make it official, but after what the coach said pregame it's hard to read it any other way. Doughty is the big loss. He was the best player on the ice in New York with a goal and 2 assists, his first goal of the season and his first 3-point game since February 2025. You don't take that guy out of the lineup on a whim. You do it because the second night of a back-to-back is a bad time to push through something that's barking. The same goes for Perry. Nobody needs a 40-something winger playing hurt in October.

Cody Ceci slots in on the back end and Jared Wright goes in up front. Both had been listed as lineup options this morning, alongside the news that Mats Zuccarello is on injured reserve. The Kings didn't hold a morning skate because they flew in from New York the same day, so these changes were always going to be made at the rink.

Zach Dooley

@DooleyLAK

Anton Forsberg leads the @LAKings out in Chicago!

In net it's Anton Forsberg against his old team, giving Darcy Kuemper the night off after his 23 saves against the Rangers. Forsberg won his only start against Chicago last season, stopping 22 of 23 in a 3-1 win at the United Center. Chicago comes in at 3-8-0, which is the kind of opponent a backup goalie on the back end of a back-to-back is made for.

There's a lot riding on it for LA. The Kings are 3-1-0 on this 5-game trip and 3-5-2 overall, so a win would turn a bad start into a.500 team and close out a 4-1 trip. Laviolette spread the minutes around against the Rangers to save legs for tonight, and every skater was in on at least 1 even-strength goal. Tonight they need that depth to hold up without Doughty or Perry. After that, keep an eye on whether either one is still a bump and bruise once the team gets home.