Kings Eye Pacific Division Lead Heading Into Final Games Before Olympic Break
Two games. Four points.
Less than 48 hours. That’s all that separates the Kings from a much-needed Olympic break - and potentially, a share of first place in the Pacific Division.
It’s been a season of twists, turns, and turbulence in Los Angeles, but somehow, here we are. The Kings sit just four points behind the Vegas Golden Knights for the top spot in the Pacific, and they’ve got a game in hand. With back-to-back matchups against Seattle tonight and Vegas tomorrow, LA has a golden opportunity to make a serious statement heading into the league’s three-week pause.
But to get there, they’ll need to flip the script on their home-ice performance.
Home Ice Woes
Crypto.com Arena hasn’t exactly been a fortress this season. The Kings are 8-10-7 at home - a stark contrast from last year’s dominance in front of the LA faithful.
Tonight’s matchup against the Kraken offers a chance to reset that narrative. Seattle’s coming off a 4-2 loss to Anaheim last night, and with travel fatigue potentially in play, the Kings need to capitalize early.
They’ll have to do it without Mikey Anderson, who’s not expected to suit up after taking a knock in Sunday’s game against Carolina. His absence leaves a gap on the blue line, but the Kings have depth - and they’ll need every bit of it with Vegas looming tomorrow.
Opportunity Knocks
This is where coaching matters. Jim Hiller has a chance to galvanize his group for a crucial 48-hour stretch.
Seattle tonight. Vegas tomorrow.
Four points on the table. And a chance to go into the break with momentum, swagger, and possibly a share of the division lead.
It’s not just about standings - it’s about identity. These are the games where playoff teams start to show their teeth.
Players to Watch
Adrian Kempe is riding a seven-game point streak heading into tonight’s contest. He’s been a steady offensive presence for LA, and his ability to create chances off the rush has been a spark plug for the top six.
Kevin Fiala knows how to produce against Seattle - he’s one of just five players in the league with 20 or more points against the Kraken since they joined the NHL in 2021-22. He’s also part of a third line with Quinton Byfield and Andrei Kuzmenko that could be an X-factor in this one.
Speaking of Byfield, his ability to draw penalties has been elite this season - his 26 drawn calls rank fifth among NHL forwards. That knack for forcing mistakes could be huge against a Kraken team that’s struggled to stay out of the box.
And don’t sleep on Alex Laferriere. The young forward had a career-high nine shots on goal the last time these two teams met, back on December 23. That kind of volume shows confidence - and against a Seattle team on the second night of a back-to-back, he could find some space to let it rip again.
Projected Kings Lineup vs. Kraken
Forwards
Moore - Kopitar - Armia
Perry - Laferriere - Kempe
Fiala - Byfield - Kuzmenko
Malott - Helenius - Ward
Defense
Dumoulin - Doughty
Edmundson - Clarke
Moverare - Ceci
Goaltenders
Kuemper (starter)
Forsberg
Scratches: Foegele (F), Anderson (D)
Injured Reserve: Turcotte
Around the Rink
Seattle’s expected to roll out a similar lineup to the one that fell to Anaheim last night. That includes a top line of McCann, Beniers, and Eberle, with Brandon Montour and Jamie Oleksiak anchoring the second D-pair. Philipp Grubauer got the start in net Tuesday - it remains to be seen if he goes again or if Seattle turns to a backup on the second night of a back-to-back.
How to Watch
Puck drops tonight at 7:00 PM Pacific, with television coverage on FanDuel Sports. The Kings' radio broadcast will be available via the ESPN LA app.
On This Day in Kings History
Flashback to February 4, 1995 - Rick Tocchet netted his only hat trick as a King in a 4-3 win over the Red Wings. That season, Tocchet led the team in goals and finished second in scoring despite playing just 36 games. A reminder that big moments can come from anywhere - especially when the stakes are high.
The Kings don’t need to be perfect over the next two nights - but they do need to be sharp, focused, and opportunistic. The break is coming.
But before that, there’s work to do. Two games.
Four points. Let’s see what they’re made of.