Wild vs Kings Projected Lineups: Game Preview and Expected Starters for January 5th, 2026

The Minnesota Wild and the Los Angeles Kings are set to face off tonight, January 5, 2026, at Crypto.com Arena. Here’s a look at the projected lineups for both teams.

Minnesota Wild Projected Lineup

  • Forwards:
    • Kirill Kaprizov - Danila Yurov - Mats Zuccarello
    • Marcus Johansson - Joel Eriksson Ek - Matt Boldy
    • Vladimir Tarasenko - Ryan Hartman - Vinnie Hinostroza
    • Marcus Foligno - Nico Sturm - Yakov Trenin
  • Defense:
    • Quinn Hughes - Brock Faber
    • Jonas Brodin - Jared Spurgeon
    • Jake Middleton - Matt Kierstad
  • Goaltenders:
    • Filip Gustavsson (Likely starter)
    • Jesper Wallstedt

The Wild are coming off a 5-4 shootout loss against the Kings on Saturday. According to predictions, the Wild have a good value on the Moneyline for tonight's game.

Injuries and Scratches: Zach Bogosian is out with a lower-body injury, sustained after blocking a shot in Saturday's game. Daemon Hunt is also sidelined with a lower-body injury. Tyler Pitlick and David Jiricek are expected to be scratched.

Los Angeles Kings Projected Lineup

  • Forwards:
    • Alex Laferriere - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
    • Warren Foegele - Quinton Byfield - Joel Armia
    • Kevin Fiala - Alex Turcotte - Andrei Kuzmenko
    • Jeff Malott - Samuel Helenius - Corey Perry
  • Defense:
    • Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
    • Joel Edmundson - Brandt Clarke
    • Brian Dumoulin - Cody Ceci
  • Goaltenders:
    • Darcy Kuemper (Likely starter)
    • Anton Forsberg

The Kings edged out a 5-4 shootout victory against the Wild in their previous encounter.

Injuries and Scratches: Trevor Moore will be missing his third consecutive game due to illness. Jacob Moverare is expected to be a scratch.

Additional Game Information

  • Puck Drop: 7:30 PM Pacific Time
  • Broadcast: FanDuel Sports
  • Radio: ESPN LA app
  • Gustavsson is expected to start in goal for the Wild, after Wallstedt made 35 saves on Saturday.
  • Kuemper is likely to start for the Kings.

In their last 10 games, the Wild have 6 wins, 1 loss, and 3 overtime losses, averaging 3.9 goals per game. The Kings have 3 wins, 6 losses, and 1 overtime loss in their last 10, averaging 2.4 goals per game.


Written By
Kabir Verma is a results-driven sports journalist who focuses on accuracy, insight, and audience engagement. He combines storytelling, analysis, and clear communication to craft impactful sports narratives. Kabir believes great journalism lies in simplifying complexity while keeping the passion intact. His goal is to inform, engage, and inspire every reader.
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