Kings seek to build on secondary scoring in matinee against Sabres

Los Angeles continues its seven-game homestand on Saturday with a 1:00 p.m. Pacific afternoon matchup against the Buffalo Sabres at Crypto.com Arena. After a 6-5 overtime victory over Ottawa, the Kings hope to sustain momentum and improve secondary scoring.

Coach Peter Laviolette indicated that the lineup will remain largely unchanged, with forwards Artemi Panarin, Nicolas Laferrière and Adrian Kempe leading the first line, and a second line featuring Quinn Byfield and Trevor Moore. Defensemen will include Brandt Clarke, who practiced yesterday after returning from an upper-body injury and is expected to play. Goaltending is still undecided; Darcy Kuemper, who rested yesterday, has a lifetime 5-3-1 record against Buffalo, while Anton Forsberg holds a 4-7-0 record.

“We need that secondary scoring,” Laviolette said after Thursday’s win, noting contributions from Moore, Byfield, Haula and defensemen.

The Sabres conclude a four-game road trip with a 2-0-1 record away from home, having secured recent wins in California. Forward Tage Thompson recorded a hat trick against the Ducks, and Quinn Quinn leads Buffalo in assists against the Kings over the past three seasons.

Injury updates include defenseman Brandt Clarke, who was cleared to play after a hit by Ottawa’s Hayden Hodgson, and forward Kevin Fiala, who participated in a full-contact practice but remains under observation before returning to game action.

The Kings will also mark their first afternoon game of the season on home ice, a schedule they have historically performed well in, and will look to capitalize on Buffalo’s travel schedule after the early start.