The Kings finally have a light schedule ahead of them, and it comes at just the right time for a group that finds itself short five players due to injuries ahead of Saturday’s showdown against the Detroit Red Wings.

They will play just three matches in 11 days, with no back-to-back sets until Nov. 29, and they will host seven of their next nine matches. They have already played three straight sets and 12 of their 18 matches have been away, leaving little time for repetitions, refinements or wrinkles. This is reflected in their scoring percentage, which is .750 at home but a more modest .500 on the road. losses in Calgary and Colorado this week on what winger Adrian Kempe described as a “rough road trip.”

“We have a lot of home games coming up in the next few weeks. We need to keep the momentum going at home,” Kempe told reporters.

This winless road trip relied on two crucial second periods – in Calgary, the middle frame meant two goals against in 36 seconds, and in Colorado, it meant 20 minutes without a shot on goal – and brought two more field goals in the injured reserve. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper and defenseman Caleb Jones, both former Avs, left Wednesday’s 4-2 loss to Colorado and did not return.

Kempe said he felt the Kings played well enough to win at least one of the two games, saying of Denver’s scoreless second period that “obviously we had shots, but obviously not at goal”, highlighting Kevin Fiala hitting the post. in escape.

“It’s bouncing a little bit the wrong way right now for us. I think the chances are there,” Kempe said.

The Kings have lost just four straight games under Jim Hiller since his promotion in February, and have only lost three straight games twice.

They will, however, have to right the ship with an understaffed crew, with Jones and Kuemper leaving in successive stints on Wednesday and both landing on IR on Friday. They join Drew Doughty (broken ankle), Arthur Kaliyev (broken collarbone) and Alex Turcotte (upper body) among the unavailable Kings.

On the positive side, winger Tanner Jeannot finished serving his three-game suspension for an illegal hit to the head of Vancouver forward Brock Boeser, who has not played or coached since receiving the sure hit.

David Rittich will man the Kings’ net in place of Kuemper and will be supported by Erik Portillo, who could make his NHL debut during this emergency call-up (Jacob Moverare got the call to replace Jones). Veteran Pheonix Copley was recalled the last time Kuemper was injured, following an 8-7 loss to Ottawa in the season opener on the road.

“It’s every hockey player’s dream to get this call. Now it’s about taking advantage of the opportunity here,” Portillo told reporters.

The Detroit cage will be guarded by a familiar protector, Cam Talbot, who first formed a tandem with Copley and then Rittich for the Kings last season. Talbot expressed an unequivocal interest in returning to the Kings as well as a preference for a two-year contract, which he received from Detroit during the offseason.