4/14 Preview – Much Still To Play For, Seeding Scenarios + Laferriere Hits 20, Lineup Decisions, Happy Trails 32

TODAY’S MATCHUP: The Kings have reached the penultimate game of the 2025-26 regular season, as they visit the Vancouver Canucks with plenty still on the line in terms of playoff seeding.

HEAD-TO-HEAD: Forward Adrian Kempe scored twice when these teams met earlier this month at Crypto.com Arena. Kempe has a point in all three games with Vancouver this season and leads the Kings with five points (3-2-5) in that matchup. Defenseman Mikey Anderson leads the Kings with three assists in three games played, including a multi-point night the last time these teams played in Vancouver.

KINGS VITALS: The Kings did not hold a morning skate today, considering the back-to-back set.

Unclear who tonight’s starting goaltender will be. Goaltender Darcy Kuemper posted a 19-save shutout when these teams met in Vancouver back in March and would be considered more likely with the back-to-back. However, considering Anton Forsberg’s recent form, there is a chance he could get the nod tonight, after he made 24 saves in a 4-1 victory over Vancouver last week in Los Angeles.

For reference, here’s how the Kings lined up yesterday, with no changes necessarily expected for tonight’s game –

Tonight’s @LAKings Line Rushes –

Panarin – Kopitar – Kempe
Moore – Byfield – Laferriere
Armia – Laughton – Wright
Joseph – Helenius – Ward

Anderson – Doughty
Edmundson – Clarke
Dumoulin – Ceci

Forsberg
Kuemper

— Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 14, 2026

Forward Alex Turcotte is getting very close and could be a potential option tonight in Vancouver, though unclear at this time. Defenseman Jacob Moverare is the only other healthy skater on the trip and is available should the Kings look at any additional lineup changes tonight.

CANUCKS VITALS: Tonight is Vancouver’s final home game of the 2025-26 season, before the Canucks end their season in Edmonton on Thursday evening.

From Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650, here’s how the Canucks lined up in Sunday’s overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks –

Projected #Canucks lines vs. @AnaheimDucks

O’Connor. Rossi. Karlsson.
Öhgren. Blueger. Boeser.
DeBrusk. EP40. Höglander.
Douglas. Mueller. Räty.

Buium. Hronek.
MP29. Willander.
EP25. Kudryavtsev.

🥅Tolopilo🥅

5pm on @Sportsnet650 https://t.co/J6DNM1E8Qt pic.twitter.com/GUGNUP1eQc

— Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) April 12, 2026

Vancouver has scored twice against the Kings this season, with goals coming from forward Evander Kane and defenseman Marcus Pettersson. The Canucks have won consecutive games entering tonight’s action, their first back-to-back victories since a four-game winning streak in December.

Storyline Of The Day – Job Not Yet Complete
Well, Job 1 is complete. But there is still much to play for.

With yesterday’s victory over Seattle, the Los Angeles Kings cemented their place in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the fifth consecutive season the Kings have qualified for the postseason.

Now, the Kings are battling for seeding. Here’s what we know.

The Kings cannot win the Pacific Division, after Vegas also won last night, giving the Golden Knights 93 points on the season thus far. The Kings have a maximum point total of 93 and Vegas holds the first tiebreaker, meaning that no matter what happens over these final two games, the Kings can’t surpass the Golden Knights.

The second and third seeds in the Pacific Division, as well as both wild card berths, are still up for grabs.

The Kings have 89 points, one behind both Utah (WC1) and Anaheim (P3) and two behind Edmonton (P2). The Ducks visit Minnesota tonight for an 5 PM Pacific puck drop, while Utah hosts Winnipeg at 6 PM, before the Kings kick things off in Vancouver at 7 PM. The Kings can climb as high as second in the Pacific Division when all is said and done but in order to do so they need two things – points and help. With a win tonight, the Kings would move even with Edmonton on 91 points, though the Oilers hold the tiebreaker. Results elsewhere will determine how the Kings stack up compared to the Ducks and Mammoth through 81 games.

In terms of ending up with home-ice advantage in Round 1, the Kings would remain in the mix to host Game 1 by winning tonight, no matter what happens for Anaheim or Utah. If the Kings collect one point, they would need Anaheim to lose against Minnesota in any fashion in order to have a chance at the second seed in the Pacific entering the regular-season finale on Thursday. With a regulation loss today, the Kings would be ruled out from hosting Game 1.

Ultimately the Kings can’t control results around them. They can only play tonight and let the chips fall as they may. Regardless of seeding, going into the playoffs on a roll is important for this group, something they are focused on as they head into Vancouver this evening.

Anze Kopitar – Anything can happen, really. We’re going to play our best and see where that lands, see where we’re going to go. We all know, you can’t relax in this league, you’ve got to keep on building and keep working on your game. Come Game 1, whoever we’re playing, we’ve got to make sure we’re sharp and we’re going to use these two games to get the mindset ready and go from there.

Quinton Byfield – There can’t be any let up. It doesn’t matter where Vancouver or Calgary are in the standings, it’s like Smitty has been saying, these teams are just in our way right now. That’s how we’ve got to look at it and just keep going and just keep the momentum rolling.

Trevor Moore – Yeah, we want to keep it rolling into the playoffs. That’s the number one goal here. There’s still seeding and stuff so we want to win these games.

Still, you can’t help but look at the scenarios. Frankly, there are just so many to focus on right now. The Kings still have four potential Round 1 opponents – Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, with varying degrees of likelihood. That’ll be determined here over the next three days. Tonight’s games, both in Vancouver and elsewhere, should bring things into focus a bit more, with Wednesday bringing offering just a bit more clarity with Vegas’ regular-season finale. Then, the stage is set for Thursday’s regular-season finale, as the Kings, Ducks, Mammoth and Oilers all play Game 82 that evening.

Much more to come and we’ll see how things continue to shake out.

3 To Watch For –
– Nice milestone for forward Alex Laferriere last night in Seattle, as he reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in the NHL.

Laferriere thought he had it against Vancouver last week but the goal was changed to forward Trevor Moore, after it was determined that the puck deflected off Moore’s shoulder on the way through. Laferriere made up for it last night in Seattle, as he buried a late empty-net goal to seal the victory and send the Kings to the playoffs.

It also marked a new career high for Laferriere, who finished last season with 19. Laferriere has been a key player for the Kings under Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith, a continuation of a large role played under Jim Hiller. Laferriere contributes in a number of areas, with goalscoring just one of the things he brings. With 20 goals, on a lower-scoring team, in addition to so many other intangibles, it’s been a terrific third NHL season for Laferriere.

“He plays hard, Laf, penalty kills, power play, finishes checks. I rely on him a lot,” D.J. Smith said of Laferriere. “As a coach, coming in and taking over, you just find yourself certain guys you’re comfortable with. You just look at his minutes and he’s a guy that I rely on in all situations. That line in general continues to be really good.”

– In terms of the lineup here, while you could always see the Kings make a change or two, there are only two extra players on the trip in forward Alex Turcotte and defenseman Jacob Moverare.

My expectation at this time is that the Kings are unlikely to rest players, with home-ice advantage still to play for. Even on Thursday, it’s unlikely that the Kings will know their fate in terms of seeding and opponent, so it doesn’t feel at this time like they’ll be making some of the wholesale changes that we’ve seen from other teams around the NHL. With that being said, the Kings have numerous players battling through injuries. In some cases, they’ve been injuries that have lingered for weeks, if not months. If there is an individual case where someone would truly benefit from a game or two off, that could make a meaningful difference for the playoffs, I imagine that player might sit, but there aren’t all that many options, either. Forwards Jeff Malott and Andrei Kuzmenko did not travel, with updates on both to come between Game 82 and Game 1. Right now, the only fully-healthy extra is Jacob Moverare, with Alex Turcotte very close.

Keeping momentum rolling and winning tonight is important. Home-ice advantage is important, especially coming off a 5-1-1 homestand, with the Kings finally finding their best game in Los Angeles. Expecting the Kings to play their guys for now and see where the chips land. A question I’ll ask D.J. Smith in today’s pre-game media availability, scheduled for 5:45 PM at Rogers Arena.

– Lastly, I will have a longer-form piece up when all is said and done, but happy trails to the greatest goaltender in LA Kings history, Jonathan Quick.

Quick played his final NHL game yesterday evening against Florida, putting an end to a storied career. A three-time Stanley Cup champion, two with the Kings. The most wins ever by an American-born goaltender. The ultimate competitor and teammate. A couple of sentences here obviously don’t do that career justice. In time, will be able to do that, but would like the chance to talk first with a few of his teammates who knew him best, who valued so greatly everything he brought to their teams and this organization. Simply put, one of the best to ever do it in an LA Kings sweater.

So, for now, sending the best of wishes to Jonathan Quick and his family on an outstanding career. More to come on that front down the road.

Kings and Canucks, Game 81 of 82! Two more to go here, Insiders, before the real season gets underway. See what we get tonight with a lot still on the line!