All articles tagged with #los angeles kings
San Jose is reportedly dangling the No. 2 overall pick in a blockbuster, with Auston Matthews among the targets, while Bruce Cassidy is a frontrunner in the Kings’ coaching search; meanwhile Carolina Hurricanes have opened the 2026 playoffs 8-0, showcasing stingy defense and stellar goaltending from Frederik Andersen as they threaten historic pace.
In a 5-1 Game 4 loss to Colorado, the Los Angeles Kings are swept in the first round, ending Anze Kopitar’s 20-year career with the franchise—where he became the all-time leader in games, points and assists and helped win two Stanley Cups—leaving the Kings with questions about leadership, coaching and goaltending as they move forward.
Los Angeles hosts Game 4 versus Colorado trailing 3-0 in the first‑round series, needing a win to extend the playoffs; coach D.J. Smith urges sticking to a low‑event, defensive game while improving finishing, with lineup tweaks including a potential Turcotte debut on Laughton’s line. A Kopitar potential final game adds high drama as the Avalanche rely on Landeskog and Lehkonen to pace the scoring.
Colorado Avalanche edged the Los Angeles Kings 2-1 in overtime to take a 2-0 lead in their playoff series, a night highlighted by Nicolas Roy’s overtime winner after a chaotic game that included a 17-minute delay caused by shattered glass behind the Kings’ bench and a slew of penalties and rough play that drew sharp commentary on the officiating. Roy, a deadline pickup, buried the decisive goal after a late regulation equalizer from Gabriel Landeskog, as Colorado overcame a frenetic, physical matchup to seize the series advantage.
In Game 2 at Ball Arena, fans pressed against the glass behind the Kings bench after a Scott Wedgewood save, causing the glass to crack and shatter and forcing a 17-minute stoppage. Interim Kings coach D.J. Smith was splattered with glass but unharmed as players cleared debris; the Avalanche won 2-1 in overtime on Nicolas Roy’s goal to take a 2-0 series lead. Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog praised the ice crew for fixing the rink quickly during the stoppage.
LA Kings pushed the Colorado Avalanche in Game 1, out-chancing them 22-20 at 5-on-5 and securing a 6-on-4 power-play goal while killing all four penalties, but couldn’t convert several Grade-A chances and were edged 1-0. Anton Forsberg delivered strong goaltending, and the Kings’ defense managed Colorado’s pressure, showing they can compete with the league’s best; with more finishing and continued execution, they have a real chance to even the series in Game 2.
Facing the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche in a tight best-of-seven, the Kings must get elite goaltending (Forsberg’s hot April form if he starts), disrupt MacKinnon with Byfield’s line, generate timely scoring from top and bottom lines, capitalize on special-teams chances, and win the dirty, physical battles to stay in the series; eight or nine of these keys need to click for Los Angeles to have a real shot.
NHL.com’s Stanley Cup Playoffs Buzz breaks down the final stretch of the 2026 regular season, where all playoff spots are set but seedings are still in flux. The focus is the tight Pacific race: Vegas leads, with Anaheim three points back and Los Angeles one point behind the Ducks (both Ducks and Kings have two games left, Oilers one), meaning the Ducks could win the division or slip into a wild card and the Kings could climb into second place or grab a wild card. The piece also outlines Eastern and Western scenarios for home-ice and first-round matchups, including the Bruins locking the East wild card and the Jets being eliminated, plus a recap of last night’s results that influenced openings in the playoffs. Nine Tuesday games carry playoff implications, with several teams eyeing seeding ahead of the postseason.
The Los Angeles Kings clinched a berth in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken, led by Quinton Byfield’s two goals and Trevor Moore’s goal and assist, with Adrian Kempe adding another score and Anton Forsberg making 28 saves.
Jonathan Quick announced he will retire after the 2025-26 season, capping a storied NHL career that includes two Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings (2012, 2014) and a Conn Smythe Trophy, later stints with Vegas and the Rangers; tonight’s game against the Florida Panthers will be his final NHL start.
The Los Angeles Kings host the Vancouver Canucks in a pivotal late-season matchup at Crypto.com Arena, aiming for a third straight win to bolster their playoff hopes. Anton Forsberg starts in goal, with the lineup largely set and Quinton Byfield expected to play despite maintenance concerns. With five games remaining, L.A. sits just behind Nashville for the final wild-card spot, while Vancouver begins a California road trip looking to gain momentum. The result could influence the tight Western Conference standings as the Kings push to control their destiny at WC2.
The Los Angeles Kings open a pivotal seven-game homestand at Crypto.com Arena against the Utah Mammoth, aiming to deliver consistent 60-minute performances at home to climb in the playoff race, with Andrei Kuzmenko skating but not expected to return this regular season; interim coach D.J. Smith and captain Quinton Byfield stress urgency as the team seeks to capitalize on home ice.
LA heads to Calgary to snap a three-game skid in a Tuesday showdown, with Kempe’s availability and a possible goalie start uncertain; Panarin has jump-started the Kings’ offense since joining, extending a six-game point streak and boosting the power play, while Joseph earned a return to the lineup after his strong Utah game. Doughty emphasizes finishing tight games as LA hunts crucial points with 12 games left, and Calgary carries momentum from a three-game win streak led by Morgan Frost, in a venue where the Kings have historically struggled (six straight regulation losses).
LA Kings host the Montreal Canadiens to cap a six-game homestand with notable lineup questions: Scott Laughton and Mathieu Joseph could be in the mix, and Quinton Byfield may return from an upper-body injury. Alex Laferriere is expected to slot onto the top power-play unit, while Artemi Panarin, Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe anchor the top line. Coach D.J. Smith emphasizes winning today as rosters settle after yesterday’s trades, aiming to finish the stretch with a .500 record.
The Los Angeles Kings acquire forward Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a conditional third-round pick that becomes a second-rounder if L.A. makes the 2026 playoffs. Laughton, 31, brings a low cap hit and strong penalty-killing and faceoff abilities, adding depth down the middle and veteran presence as the Kings reshuffle for a late-season push and enhanced draft capital.