The LA Kings Hit With Crucial Injury news Moments Before Tonight's Game 5 in Edmonton

Coach Todd McLellan of the LA Kings broke some unfortunate news on Twitter ahead of the game against the Edmonton Oilers tonight. Key player Blake Lizotte will not be playing, as confirmed in the tweet:

Lizotte's absence puts the Kings at a disadvantage, especially on their penalty kill, where he is a crucial contributor. The Oilers have a stacked powerplay, making it even more challenging for the Kings to defend without Lizotte. While it is unclear why he won't be playing, the Kings will need to quickly adapt their strategy to compensate for his absence if they hope to secure a game 5 win tonight in Edmonton. This news is certainly a blow for the Kings, who are fighting hard to stay in the playoffs.