Los Angeles Kings forward Kevin Fiala is scheduled to make his season debut on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. This appearance marks his first game back since he broke his left leg during the Milan Cortina Olympics.
Injury and Recovery
Fiala sustained the injury while representing Switzerland in a preliminary round game on February 13, which forced him to sit out the entire second half of the NHL season. Following a secondary surgery in September, he subsequently missed training camp as well as the beginning of the current campaign.
Offensive Impact for the Kings
The Kings enter the matchup dealing with offensive struggles, having scored two goals or fewer in nine of their last 14 outings, resulting in an 0-8-1 record across those games. The team anticipates that Fiala’s comeback will help bolster their scoring output. During the previous season, Fiala recorded 18 goals and 22 assists across 56 games, and he is projected to skate on the second line alongside center Quinton Byfield and forward Mats Zuccarello.
“Kevin’s been on the ice for a while now, and his game, his conditioning, his ability to create, it looks good to me out there,” coach Peter Laviolette said after practice Thursday.
