Kings Triumph 5-3 Over Kraken; Byfield, Moore, Smith Shine
The Los Angeles Kings advanced to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs following a 5-3 victory against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. This game solidified their playoff spot for the fifth consecutive year.
Kings Secure Playoff Spot
The Kings kicked off the scoring quickly with forward Quinton Byfield finding the net just three minutes into the game. Byfield demonstrated his skill by creating a 2-on-1 rush, ultimately scoring his first goal by placing a shot high past Kraken goaltender Nikke Kokko.
Byfield continued to showcase his talent, scoring again later in the first period. He maneuvered around a defender to secure a breakaway and extended the Kings’ lead to 2-0 by again defeating Kokko, marking his 22nd goal of the season.
Key Players Shine
The second period saw the Kings increase their advantage to 3-0 when Trevor Moore scored his 14th goal of the season. Alex Laferriere assisted on the goal, reaching his impressive 40th point for the season.
- Quinton Byfield: 2 goals, 22nd of the season
- Trevor Moore: 1 goal, 1 assist, 14th goal of the season
- Alex Laferriere: 1 goal, 1 assist, established career-high of 20 goals
- Adrian Kempe: 1 goal, 35th of the season
Seattle began to rally in the third period. They first closed the gap to 3-1 with a goal from Adam Larsson. Frederick Gaudreau then followed with a second goal for the Kraken, making it 3-2.
Insurance Goals and Closing Moments
In response, the Kings regained their two-goal lead when Adrian Kempe scored during a 2-on-1 rush, assisted by captain Anze Kopitar. This goal marked Kempe’s 35th of the season.
Despite a late goal from Seattle’s Bobby McMann, Alex Laferriere put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal to finalize the score at 5-3.
Post-Game Insights
Following the victory, Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith acknowledged the team’s challenges and praised their leadership for guiding the Kings through a difficult phase. Players expressed pride in their performance and the importance of sending Kopitar off with one last playoff run.
| Player | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton Byfield | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Trevor Moore | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Adrian Kempe | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Alex Laferriere | 1 | 1 | 2 |
With this victory, the Kings will face the Vancouver Canucks next in a bid to secure further momentum in their playoff journey. Their determination and teamwork will be crucial as they look to make a deep run in the postseason.
