Kings’ Drew Doughty set to return Monday for pivotal game against Oilers

Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty will make his return to the lineup Monday versus the Pacific Division rival Edmonton Oilers after missing the past three games due to an ankle injury, reports team broadcaster Patrick O’Neal.

The return will see the Kings reinforce their lineup for a pivotal game with home-ice advantage at stake. With Edmonton and Los Angeles set to face off in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, a Kings victory on Monday – whether in regulation, overtime, or a shootout – would secure second place in the Pacific Division and put Game 1 of the first round at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

For Doughty, who missed the first 47 games of the season with an ankle fracture as the result of an exhibition injury, the two-time Stanley Cup champion has since made 28 appearances with the Kings in which he has collected four goals and 13 assists for 17 points coupled with 20 penalty minutes and a plus-nine mark while leading all Los Angeles skaters with 24:18 in time on ice per game.

Originally chosen second overall by Los Angeles in the 2008 NHL Draft, the 35-year-old native of London, Ont., has since spent 17 seasons with the Kings spanning 1,205 career contests in which he has registered 160 goals and 526 assists for 686 points. In 2015-16, Doughty was presented with the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s Defenseman of the Year after putting up 51 points counting 14 goals and 37 assists in 82 games.

This spring marks the fourth consecutive year in which the Kings and Oilers will face off in the opening round of the postseason. While Doughty missed the initial run in 2021-22 due to a wrist injury, the past two years have seen him combine for six points in 11 playoff outings. The Oilers have ousted the Kings in each of the three playoff series.