LA Kings Mats Zuccarello return and Cody Ceci lineup change against Nashville Predators, Digi Mart USA News: The Los Angeles Kings are in the second week of a season-long, seven-game homestand and host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday evening. Goaltender Anton Forsberg is expected to start for the Kings after winning his only start against Nashville last season.
Defenseman Erik Gustafsson is expected to miss the game and is listed as day-to-day by head coach Peter Laviolette. Defenseman Cody Ceci is expected to return to the lineup after being a healthy scratch for eight of the team’s last nine games.
Forward Mats Zuccarello is also set to return tonight after missing six games. He needs to be activated from injured reserve before the game, which is expected to happen this afternoon.
Zuccarello is expected to start on a line with Scott Laughton and Joel Armia, though Laviolette indicated lines could change during the game depending on how he feels.
Laviolette said the Kings will keep an eye on Zuccarello’s ice time because his absence was longer-term than a few days. He noted the team will stay in close contact with players returning from injury to gauge their workload.
Ceci said the coaching staff has communicated openly with him throughout his time out of the lineup, which he appreciated even though he did not always agree with the decisions. Laviolette said difficult roster decisions will continue as more players return.
On the power play, Brandt Clarke is expected to return to the top unit with Gustafsson out. Zuccarello is expected to play on the second unit.
The Kings have scored seven power-play goals in four games on this homestand and have converted at 38.6 percent, fourth-best in the NHL.
The Predators enter the game on a four-game winning streak, including a 3-1 victory over St. Louis on Saturday.
Nashville defenseman Roman Josi has 18 assists this season, ranking fifth among NHL defensemen.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The Kings are 2-2 through the first four games of the homestand and sit three games below .500 for the season.
