LA Kings Secure Playoff Spot; Face Tough Challenge in Round One?
The Los Angeles Kings secured a playoff spot on Monday after beating the Seattle Kraken 5-3.
As the Kings wind down the regular season, they are one of the hottest teams in the league.
Will that success carry over into the 2026 NHL playoffs with a possible top-tier team waiting?
The Kings are on a hot streak to close out the regular season, outscoring their opponents 23-16, and are 7-1-3 in their last 11.
Los Angeles is now 36-26-20 for 90 points and has secured the second wild card spot. Since taking over as head coach, D.J. Smith is 11-5-6. The Kings have made the playoffs in six of the past 10 seasons.
If the playoffs started today, the Kings would face the Colorado Avalanche in round one. Colorado is currently first overall in the league with a 54-16-11 record for 119 points and is led by elite center Nathan MacKinnon and star defenseman Cale Makar.
If this is indeed the first round matchup, the Avalanche are 3-0 against Los Angeles this season, outscoring them 13-5, and have won eight of the past 10 meetings.
As we wind down this season, there are five players currently on hot streaks for the Kings. Forward Quinton Byfield has five goals in his last six games, Adrian Kempe has six goals and two assists for eight points in six games, and Artemi Panarin has two goals and five assists for seven points in six games. Goaltender Anton Forsberg is also hot, winning his last five games, giving up seven goals, and posting a .951 save percentage.
The road to the playoffs for Los Angeles has not been easy. A coaching change, inconsistency, average play from goaltender Darcy Kuemper, and slumps galore.
They also have a potential playoff matchup with the league’s top team. However, as Los Angeles has proven in the past, the regular season is nothing compared to the playoffs. They are coming into the playoffs as a hot team with a hot goaltender. Regardless of how the team plays, Forsberg will determine how far they go. If it is the Avalanche, Colorado has come up short with a similar roster before.
Yes, the Kings will be the underdog, but they have played that role before.
Everything is going well right now, and all they need is to carry that momentum into the most important time of the year.
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