Alex Turcotte was expected to return to the Los Angeles Kings lineup for Penguins vs Kings on 11/7/2026, giving the home side a fresh option as it continued through a 2-1-0 start at home. Martin Chromiak was expected to come out, while Samuel Helenius and Cody Ceci were projected as healthy scratches.
The move mattered because the Kings were still short-handed in the places that usually carry their attack. Kevin Fiala and Mats Zuccarello both skated again on the morning of 11/7/2026, but that was a step toward a return rather than a return itself, and their absence meant Turcotte's comeback filled a real need rather than simply shuffling names on a sheet.
That is why the timing drew attention around a game against a Pittsburgh team that entered on a four-game losing streak. Darcy Kuemper was expected to start in goal for the Kings, and his history against Pittsburgh offered a useful baseline: a 5-4-2 record, a.912 save percentage and a 2.96 goals-against average. Pittsburgh also had Evgeni Malkin back in the lineup after he missed Tuesday's game in Vegas, and he led the Penguins with six goals this season.
The rest of the matchup carried its own familiar edge. Erik Karlsson led Pittsburgh in scoring with 16 points and 13 assists, while Adrian Kempe had scored nine goals in his last eight games played against Pittsburgh. Corey Perry had a multi-point game against Pittsburgh last season, and Trevor Moore had two assists in two games against the Penguins. The Kings were in the middle of a homestand, the Penguins were starting a three-game California road trip, and the night also carried Hockey Fights Cancer significance.
For Los Angeles, the next question was less about tonight than about how quickly the forward group can get whole again. Turcotte was ready to rejoin it now, but Fiala and Zuccarello were still only back on the ice, which leaves the Kings waiting on the players most likely to change the shape of their attack.
