In a highly anticipated Freeway Faceoff between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks, all eyes are on forward Adrian Kempe and his remarkable performance against Anaheim in previous seasons. Today's Friday afternoon matinee marks the first matchup of the season between the two rivals.

Kempe has been a force to be reckoned with against the Ducks, leading the Kings with four goals and seven points in last season's series. In fact, over the last six seasons, Kempe has scored a staggering 15 goals against Anaheim, making him the player with the most goals against the Ducks in that span across the entire NHL. His 15 career goals against the Ducks also surpass his goal total against any other opponent by a significant margin, with St. Louis and Vegas tied at a distant eight goals.

The Kings, who did not hold a morning skate due to the afternoon game, are expected to split the goaltending duties this weekend. Cam Talbot, with an impressive record of 16-7-2, a .936 save percentage, and a 1.94 goals-against average against the Ducks, could start in the first half of the back-to-back games. Pheonix Copley, who picked up a win on Monday, boasts a 1-0-0 record against Anaheim, along with a .952 save percentage and a 1.21 goals-against average.

Based on the previous practice, no major changes are expected in the Kings' lineup from Monday's game against the Arizona Coyotes. However, there may be a shuffle in the bottom six forward positions. Forward Blake Lizotte, who missed Monday's game, is skating individually and could potentially join the team if he's cleared to play. Defenseman Jacob Moverare is also available for the Kings should they choose to make any adjustments.

On the other side, the Ducks enter tonight's game on a four-game losing streak, extended by a 4-3 defeat to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. The starting goaltender for the Ducks is yet to be announced, but if John Gibson gets the nod, he brings a regular-season record of 14-11-0 against the Kings, with a .915 save percentage and a 2.52 goals-against average. Lukas Dostal, who made an impressive start against the Kings in December 2022, could also be considered for the game after his stellar performance.

Despite the Ducks' recent struggles, defenseman Cam Fowler has proven to be a threat against the Kings over the years, accumulating three assists in three games against LA last season. Anaheim will be without the services of key young players Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and Isac Lundestrom, who are currently on injured reserve.

In the lead-up to this game, the Kings made a lineup change as Kevin Fiala joined Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore on the same line. Fiala, who aimed for more consistency and reduced risky plays, has shown significant improvement in the past three games. His on-ice control of shot attempts at 5-on-5 has risen from just over 51 percent to just over 61 percent, along with an increase in scoring chances.

Fiala's renewed confidence is evident in his willingness to shoot the puck himself, leading to more offensive opportunities. Kings' coach Todd McLellan praised Fiala's recent performances, crediting the line change and Fiala's own efforts for his improved play.

The Freeway Faceoff promises an exciting clash between the Kings and the Ducks as Kempe looks to continue his dominance against Anaheim, while Fiala aims to build on his recent surge. Fans can expect high-intensity action as these bitter rivals battle it out on the ice in Orange County this afternoon.