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Los Angeles Kings News
Pheonix Copley was the first goalie off the ice at the Kings' morning skate.

Copley will likely start his second game of the season and hope to bounce back after a terrible outing in his season debut. Copley allowed five goals on 19 shots in his only game this season, a 6-5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Pressure will be on for Copley as another poor outing could lead to the Kings eventually giving David Rittich a shot at backup duties. The Kings are -179 home favourites on Tuesday against an Arizona Coyotes team that has been selective offensively (2.40 GF/GP) and stingy defensively (1.80 GA/GP) through five contests (3-2-0).

Pheonix Copley
Darcy Kuemper will start Tuesday vs. Toronto.

Kuemper will start on Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs and hope to improve on his lacklustre start to the season. The Capitals have been very poor in general (1-2-1), receiving minimal goal support (1.25 GF/GP), paralleled by Kuemper's less-than-ideal 3.56 GAA and .887 SV%. The Maple Leafs have had their struggles as well (3-2-0), but scoring goals has not been one of them, as they enter Tuesday averaging 3.80 goals per game. Kuemper and the Capitals are +154 home underdogs against the Maple Leafs.

Darcy Kuemper
Darcy Kuemper will start Saturday vs. Montreal.

Kuemper allowed six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a loss to Ottawa in his previous start but is the expected starter Saturday vs. Montreal. The 33-year-old missed some time prior to the Capitals' previous game due to the birth of his child but has a 1-1-0 record, .884 SV% and 3.84 GAA so far in 2023-24. He takes on the 1-1-1 Montreal Canadiens, who are 13th in the NHL in goals for (3.33) and 21st in shots per game (29.7).

Darcy Kuemper
Darcy Kuemper is the expected starter Saturday vs. Montreal.

Kuemper allowed six goals on 29 shots (.793 SV%) in a loss to Ottawa in his previous start but is the expected starter Saturday vs. Montreal. The 33-year-old missed some time prior to the Capitals' previous game due to the birth of his child but has a 1-1-0 record, .884 SV% and 3.84 GAA so far in 2023-24. He takes on the 1-1-1 Montreal Canadiens, who are 13th in the NHL in goals for (3.33) and 21st in shots per game (29.7).

Darcy Kuemper
Kuemper will start in Ottawa on Wednesday.

Kuemper made his season debut in Monday’s game against the Flames after missing the Capitals’ season opener due to the birth of his son. The 33-year-old netminder kicked off his season with an impressive 3-2 shootout victory over Calgary, stopping 38 of the 40 shots he faced in the process. Kuemper will be hoping to build off that momentum heading into Wednesday night’s clash with the Senators in Ottawa, where he and the Capitals are sizable underdogs at +150. Kuemper recorded a 22-26-7 record in 57 appearances with the Capitals last season to go along with a .908 SV% and a 2.87 GAA.

Darcy Kuemper
Arthur Kaliyev has served his four-game suspension and is expected to make his debut vs. Winnipeg.

Kaliyev will make his season debut after serving a four-game suspension issued to him during the preseason for a knee infraction against Chase De Leo of the Anaheim Ducks. The skilled right-winger is expected to line up on the Kings' third line with Trevor Moore and Phillip Danault. Last season, Kaliyev scored a career-high 28 points (13G / 15A) in 56 games while averaging only 11:41 time-on-ice.

Arthur Kaliyev
Joel Edmundson (hand) has been placed on the long-term injured reserve.

Edmundson had hand surgery during the offseason and was expected to miss the first four-to-six weeks of the regular season which has led to him being placed on the LTIR Monday. Washington acquired the defenseman from the Montreal for a third-round pick (originally acquired from Minnesota) and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft with Montreal retaining 50 percent of Edmundson's contract in the offseason. He is entering his ninth NHL season.

Joel Edmundson
Darcy Kuemper will start Monday vs. Calgary.

Kuemper will make his season debut with the Capitals on Monday after being away from the team for their season opener to be with his wife for the birth of his son. The Capitals will hope that the return of Kuemper can give them a boost as they were shut out, 4-0, against the Pittsburgh Penguins in their first game of the season. Kuemper tied a career-high in his first season with the Capitals in 2022-23 by playing 57 games (22-26-7), recording a 2.85 GAA and .909 SV%. Tonight, the Capitals are +113 home underdogs against the Calgary Flames, who are off to a 1-1-0 start to the season in which they have been outscored 8-7.

Darcy Kuemper
Spence is expected to draw into the Kings' lineup on Saturday.

Spence was a healthy scratch in the Kings' season opener, but he will suit up for Saturday's game vs. the Hurricanes. It's unclear exactly who Jordan Spence will replace in the lineup, but expect it to be Andreas Englund. Spence spent most of last year in the AHL, where he had four goals and 41 assists (45 points) in 56 games with the Ontario Reign.

Jordan Spence
Copley will start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.

Cam Talbot started the Kings' season opener but they will turn to Copley in their second game on Saturday. Copley enjoyed success in 2022-23, going 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and .903 SV%. As impressive as his win total was last season, he draws a dreadful matchup on Saturday and should be benched for better options.

Pheonix Copley
Copley will likely start Saturday vs. the Hurricanes.

Cam Talbot started the Kings' season opener but they will turn to Copley in their second game on Saturday. Copley enjoyed success in 2022-23, going 24-6-3 with a 2.64 GAA and .903 SV%. As impressive as his win total was last season, he draws a dreadful matchup on Saturday and should be benched for better options.

Pheonix Copley
Jordan Spence has been recalled from the Ontario Reign (AHL).

Spence was originally assigned to the minors to start the season but has been recalled from the Ontario Reign (AHL) ahead of the Kings' matchup Saturday vs. Carolina. The 22-year-old made headlines in the offseason after being the first Australian born NHL player to participate in a game located in Australia due to the preseason Global Series. In 2022-23 he appeared briefly for the Kings, picking up an assist and six SOG in six games played. He has officially changed his number from 53 to 21 for the 2023-24 campaign.

Jordan Spence
Jack Studnicka has been recalled on an emergency basis from Abbotsford (AHL).

Vancouver played their opening night victory vs. Edmonton with only 17 skaters and have been granted the right to recall Jack Studnicka on an emergency basis from Abbotsford (AHL) without it effecting the teams' salary cap. The 24-year-old centre had four goals, four assists, 65 SOG, 16 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus in 48 games with Vancouver and Boston in 2022-23 and will be looking to stick with the team longer than his original emergency call up.

Jack Studnicka
David Rittich has cleared waivers and been loaned to Ontario (AHL).

Rittich being loaned to the Ontario Reign of the AHL signifies that the Los Angeles Kings will begin their 2023-24 campaign with Cam Talbot and Phoenix Copley as their goaltending tandem. Rittch had a phenomenal preseason with the Kings, posting a 1.17 GAA and a .960 SV% in three appearances (2-0-0), and will be eager to get back to the NHL level if Copley falters early on.

David Rittich
Colorado has acquired Caleb Jones from Carolina for Cal Burke.

After clearing waivers earlier this week, Jones has now been traded to the Avalanche in exchange for Cal Burke. The Texas native has 217 career games under his belt, tallying 50 points (14G / 36A) in that span. Jones will likely serve as a depth defenseman for the Avalanche this season.

Caleb Jones
The Kings assigned Brandt Clarke to Ontario (AHL).

Clarke was the No.8 overall pick in 2021 and had a shot to make the Kings out of training camp. Ultimately he will start in Ontario, where he had two points (1G / 1A) in five games last season after graduating from the OHL. The 20-year-old blueliner posted 61 points (23G / 38A) in just 31 games for the Barrie Colts last season.

Brandt Clarke