With Darcy Kuemper's return from a lower-body injury, the Kings placed Copley on waivers on Wednesday. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1). He will report back to Ontario after clearing waivers on Thursday.
After missing the last two games due to a lower-body injury, Kuemper will return to the crease on Tuesday for the first time since October 13th. Kuemper turned away 23 of the 26 shots he faced in that game, as the Kings fell to the Wild 4-3 in a shootout. The 35 year-old netminder is still in search of his first victory of the season as the Kings enter action on Tuesday at +110 on the money line.
Kopitar suffered a foot injury last Monday and was initially listed as week-to-week. Kopitar is not expected to play on Tuesday but he was placed on Injured Reserve retroactive to last week, so he is eligible to return at nay time. The 38-year-old Slovenian had four points (0G / 4A) in four games this season.
Kuemper suffered a lower-body injury last Monday and has missed the last two games. However, he returned to full practice on Monday and is expected to join the team as they head to St. Louis. While he may not be available for Tuesday’s game, it’s an encouraging sign that he could return to the crease at some point during the trip.
Kopitar suffered a foot injury last Monday and was initially listed as week-to-week. However, he's already back on the ice and will join the team as they head to St. Louis. While he’s unlikely to play on Tuesday, this is a positive development that suggests his absence may be shorter than originally expected.
Kopitar did not play in the Kings' previous game and will be sidelined week-to-week as he recovers from a foot injury. The Kings are off to a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season (1-3-1) and will be further challenged to create offense without Kopitar, who announced several weeks ago that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the season. The 38-year-old Kopitar has four points (0G / 4A) in four games this season.
Helenius will slot in for captain Anze Kopitar, who is out with an undisclosed injury. It's a season debut for Helenius, who appeared in 50 games with the Kings last season, tallying 4 goals and 3 assists.
Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.
With Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) sidelined, the Kings will turn to Forsberg on Thursday when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 32-year-old Forsberg was acquired by the Kings in the offseason and struggled in his debut last week, allowing five goals on 35 shots (.857 SV%) in a 6-5 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. Forsberg has a 3.05 GAA and .904 SV% in 191 career games (75-81-14). The Kings enter the action on Thursday as -193 home favorites against the Penguins.
Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. He was recalled by Los Angeles earlier on Wednesday after Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) was announced day-to-day, but has been reassigned back to the Ontario Reign (AHL) after the Kings acquired goalie Phoenix Copley from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Kings lost Copley at the beginning of the month to the Tampa Bay Lightning after placing him on waivers. However, with Darcy Kuemper (undisclosed) considered day-to-day, the Kings were in need of another goalie and re-acquired Copley from Tampa Bay via trade for future considerations. Copley is no stranger to the NHL, with 77 games of experience. The 33-year-old Copley spent the majority of the 2024-25 season in the AHL, tallying a 2.49 GAA and .904 SV% in 42 games with the Ontario Reign (24-17-1).
Kuemper was not at practice on Wednesday and is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. The 35-year-old Kuemper is off to a sluggish start to the 2025-26 season, posting a 3.35 GAA and .868 SV% in three games (0-2-1). The Kings recalled goalie Erik Portillo from the Ontario Reign (AHL), but Anton Forsberg is expected to start for the Kings on Thursday against the Penguins.
Anze Kopitar is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury and was not at practice on Wednesday, but could be an option on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the self-proclaimed final season of his career, the 38-year-old Kopitar is off to a hot start with four points (0G / 4A) in his first four games.
Portillo played one game with the Kings last season, his NHL debut, saving 28 of 29 shots (.966 SV%) to record a victory. The 25-year-old goalie was the 67th-overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. It's unclear if he was recalled for precautionary reasons or if there is an injury concern with one of Darcy Kuemper or Anton Forsberg.
The Kings (1-2-0) have only one win this season, and it came with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, but they will roll with Kuemper on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was sensational in the 2024-25 season, finishing as a Vezina runner-up after posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 50 outings (31-11-7). That said, he has not started the 2025-26 season on the same track, posting a 3.63 GAA and .860 SV% in two games (0-2-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against the Wild.
The Kings (1-2-0) have only one win this season, and it came with Anton Forsberg between the pipes, but they will likely roll with Kuemper on Monday against the Minnesota Wild. Kuemper was sensational in the 2024-25 season, finishing as a Vezina runner-up after posting a 2.02 GAA and .921 SV% in 50 outings (31-11-7). That said, he has not started the 2025-26 season on the same track, posting a 3.63 GAA and .860 SV% in two games (0-2-0). The Kings enter Monday's contest as slight -106 road favorites against the Wild.
After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.
After a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche in their season opener on Tuesday, the Kings will switch to Forsberg between the pipes on Wednesday against the Golden Knights. Forsberg to a two-year deal worth $2.25 million AAV in the offseason to slide into their backup goalie position behind Darcy Kuemper. The 32-year-old Forsberg has been inconsistent in his career but recorded a career-high three shutouts last season in addition to a 2.72 GAA and .901 SV% in 30 appearances (11-12-3) with the Ottawa Senators. The Kings enter Wednesday's matchup against the Golden Knights as +177 road underdogs.
