All articles tagged with #kings
Louisville's expansion UFL team overcame an 0-3 start by revamping the QB position, roster, and culture, then defeated the DC Defenders 27-20 to win the league championship in their inaugural season.
Colorado completed a four-game playoff sweep of the Los Angeles Kings with a 5-1 win in Game 4, riding Nathan MacKinnon’s first-series goal on the power play, Cale Makar’s timely scoring, and Artturi Lehkonen’s strong two-way play to overwhelm L.A. while silencing any late push. Anze Kopitar’s emotional farewell capped the night as the Kings captain ended his 20-season NHL run. With Colorado’s depth, top-line talent, and disciplined defense on display, the Avalanche now eye a tougher next opponent (Dallas or Minnesota) and remain legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.
Two games into the Kings–Avalanche series, Los Angeles has frustrated Colorado enough to limit them to four total goals and has won both teams’ special-teams battles, yet the Kings have managed only two goals at 5-on-5 and trail 2-0. Artemi Panarin has the series’ only multi-goal output (two power-play goals), while Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, and Martin Necas have combined for zero goals and one point. Anton Forsberg has been outstanding in net (.941 save percentage, 1.90 GAA), but the Kings must convert more chances and get offense from multiple players to avoid a downhill path.
Scott Wedgewood stopped 24 of 25 shots in his first NHL playoff start at age 33, guiding the Colorado Avalanche to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Colorado built a lead with a Nathan MacKinnon score and an Artturi Lehkonen tally, then withstood late pressure as Wedgewood remained composed and stellar in the crease, earning praise from coach Jared Bednar and becoming a crowd favorite with the nickname “Wedgie.”
LA visits Colorado for Game 1 of the Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with coach D.J. Smith stressing that the Kings must weather Colorado’s surges, rely on Adrian Kempe to lead offensively, and leverage special-teams opportunities and a veteran defensive group to reset and capitalize on key moments.
Colorado Avalanche host the Los Angeles Kings in Game 1 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena, aiming to extend their regular-season dominance (3-0) behind Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar as they pursue a first-round edge in a series history that favors Colorado.
Colorado’s top goalie led the NHL in save percentage, while Los Angeles’ likely starter excelled in the final month of the regular season, setting up a high-stakes goaltending matchup for Round 1.
With a playoff berth secured, the Los Angeles Kings head to Vancouver for Game 81 with seeding and potential home-ice in Round 1 still on the line. Laferriere hits his 20th goal in a milestone night as lineup decisions are teased in a back‑to‑back scenario, with goaltending still up in the air between Kuemper and Forsberg and only a couple of healthy extras available. The Canucks, playing their final home game of the season, look to finish strong as both teams jockey for positioning ahead of the final games of the regular season.
Los Angeles hosts Edmonton in the final 2025-26 home game, aiming to cap a productive homestand and bolster playoff positioning in a playoff-style showdown on Fan Appreciation Night. Anton Forsberg is expected in goal for the Kings, with Jeff Malott a game-time decision and Byfield/Ceci monitoring injuries; Panarin, Kopitar and Kempe form a potent forward trio, while Edmundson and Clarke anchor the defense. Edmonton counters with Evan Bouchard, a leading creator this season. With both teams in the race for division and wild-card spots, today’s result could influence the postseason landscape.
The Los Angeles Kings host the Philadelphia Flyers at Crypto.com Arena with forward Adrian Kempe listed as a game-time decision and forward Joel Armia progressing but not playing tonight. Coming off a 3-1-1 road trip, LA sits on the edge of the Western Conference playoff picture with 15 games remaining, and a win could move them into a playoff spot depending on other results. Darcy Kuemper is expected to start in goal; if Kempe cannot go, Mathieu Joseph would fill the spot. The Kings aim to improve home performance (10 wins at Crypto this season) and tighten the five-man unit on defense under interim coach D.J. Smith as they chase a stronger finish.
Anze Kopitar became the Los Angeles Kings' all-time leading scorer, reaching 1,308 points in 1,505 games after a two-goal performance against the New Jersey Devils, surpassing Marcel Dionne’s 1,307. Dionne praised Kopitar’s two-way game and leadership as Kopitar cements his place atop the Kings’ franchise scoring chart.
Scott Wheeler ranks the Los Angeles Kings at No. 27 in his 2026 NHL prospect pool rankings, noting a middle-of-the-pack group with no current star at center but solid depth on defense and in goal, including three defense prospects (two of them big) and two goalie prospects. The ranking project evaluates nearly 500 prospects across all 32 teams as it counts down from No. 32 to No. 1, highlighting the Kings' notable gap down the middle despite their defensive and goaltending depth.
Artemi Panarin was traded from the New York Rangers to the Los Angeles Kings for Liam Greentree and two conditional picks and signed a two-year, $22 million contract with the Kings, timing the move to before the Olympic break and emphasizing a desire to join a team that would sign him immediately rather than be a rental.
New York traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings for top prospect Liam Greentree and two conditional picks, with Panarin signing a two-year, $22 million contract; the move ends his era in New York as the Rangers, currently last in the Eastern Conference, pivot to a roster retooling aimed at becoming competitive again under coach Mike Sullivan.
Artemi Panarin declined a four-year contract offer from Seattle with a cap hit above $14 million and then was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, where he signed a two-year, $22 million extension; Seattle reportedly offered an AAV higher than Leon Draisaitl’s, Panarin insisted on LA, and the Rangers traded him for prospect Liam Greentree and two conditional picks. Panarin has a full no-movement clause and informed the Rangers he would only go to Los Angeles, as Seattle remains active in pursuing upgrades. The Kraken sit third in the Pacific; Panarin has 19 goals and 57 points this season, while LA’s leading scorer is not Panarin at the moment.