Los Angeles Kings: Penalty Kill Struggles Persist Amid Injury Return

Brandt Clarke skated onto the ice at practice on Tuesday, clearing the way for his return to the lineup ahead of the Los Angeles Kings' match against the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. His presence offers a reprieve for a team that has struggled to contain opponents when playing a man down. The Kings currently hold the worst penalty kill percentage in the National Hockey League, stopping just 61.5% of penalties this season.

Clarke's availability follows a volatile week for the Kings. He was removed from an overtime victory over the Ottawa Senators on Thursday due to injury, then returned for a Saturday loss to the Buffalo Sabres. In that game, the Kings allowed three goals, two of which came while shorthanded, including the winner. Reports from Monday's practice indicated another injury scare for Clarke, but he was back on the ice by Tuesday.

The Kings (4-7-2) are also expecting to welcome back Adrian Kempe, who missed one game due to a minor issue similar to the absences of Drew Doughty and Corey Perry during their trip to Chicago. The team continues to await the returns of Kevin Fiala, Alex Turcotte, and Mats Zuccarello. Fiala has not played since early February with a broken leg, while Turcotte has been out since October 4 with an undisclosed injury. Zuccarello has dealt with a shoulder issue that has required two stints on injured reserve.

The Kings' special teams have been a persistent point of contention for front office leadership. General Manager Ken Holland stated last season that the team could not expect to reach the playoffs with their previous special teams numbers. Those struggles have intensified since two offseasons ago, when the club added defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin. The penalty kill unit dropped from eighth in the league to 30th among 32 franchises year over year.

Head Coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the difficulty of the current situation after the loss to Buffalo. "Every penalty-kill goal that's scored is a little bit different," Laviolette said. "Listen, there's been no question that there's been different things, whether it be 5-on-5 play or power play or penalty kill, whatever it is, it's an opportunity to make a difference in the game. We've got to get better."

The Kings face a tough test in the Sharks (7-8-1), who possess a potent power play. San Jose relies heavily on center Macklin Celebrini, who signed a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million annually this past summer. The 2024 No. 1 overall pick is joined on the top unit by rookie Ivar Stenberg. The 19-year-old, selected second overall in June, has recorded seven of his nine points this season with the extra man.

The two teams will meet at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TNT, truTV, and HBO Max.