Another injury forces Kings to shuffle lines hours before Game 3

The Los Angeles Kings and head coach Todd McLellan will need to put the lines in the mixer ahead of Game 3 against the Edmonton Oilers in their first round series on Friday night.

The Kings confirmed that both forwards Blake Lizotte and Kevin Fiala won’t be in tonight’s lineup. McLellan told reporters after Friday’s morning stake that Lizotte will miss the game due to a lower-body injury.

While Lizotte did not record a point in the first two games against Edmonton, he did put up 11 goals and 34 points in 81 games during the regular season.

As for Fiala, he has been out of the lineup since April 1 with a lower-body injury. He finished second on the team in scoring during the regular season with 72 points in 69 games.

Neither player participated in the team’s morning skate, and Gabriel Vilardi is likely to take over Lizotte’s spot at centre on the third line, between Alex Iafallo and Carl Grundstrom.

The series, which is tied 1-1, shifts to Los Angeles later tonight.

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