{"id":584399,"date":"2026-04-14T21:35:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T21:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/584399\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T21:35:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T21:35:07","slug":"4-14-preview-much-still-to-play-for-seeding-scenarios-laferriere-hits-20-lineup-decisions-happy-trails-32","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/584399\/","title":{"rendered":"4\/14 Preview – Much Still To Play For, Seeding Scenarios + Laferriere Hits 20, Lineup Decisions, Happy Trails 32"},"content":{"rendered":"

WHO: Los Angeles Kings (35-26-19) @ Vancouver Canucks (24-48-8)
WHAT: 2025-26 Regular-Season Game 81\/82
WHEN: Tuesday, April 14 @ 7:00 PM Pacific
WHERE: Rogers Arena \u2013 Vancouver, BC
HOW TO FOLLOW: VIDEO: FanDuel Sports Network So-Cal \u2013 AUDIO \u2013 ESPN LA 710, ESPN LA App & LA Kings App \u2013 TWITTER: @dooleylak<\/a> & @lakings<\/a><\/p>\n

TODAY\u2019S 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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

KINGS VITALS: The Kings did not hold a morning skate today, considering the back-to-back set. <\/p>\n

Unclear who tonight\u2019s 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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

For reference, here\u2019s how the Kings lined up yesterday, with no changes necessarily expected for tonight\u2019s game \u2013<\/p>\n

Tonight’s @LAKings<\/a> Line Rushes \u2013<\/p>\n

Panarin \u2013 Kopitar \u2013 Kempe
Moore \u2013 Byfield \u2013 Laferriere
Armia \u2013 Laughton \u2013 Wright
Joseph \u2013 Helenius \u2013 Ward<\/p>\n

Anderson \u2013 Doughty
Edmundson \u2013 Clarke
Dumoulin \u2013 Ceci<\/p>\n

Forsberg
Kuemper<\/p>\n

\u2014 Zach Dooley (@DooleyLAK) April 14, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

CANUCKS VITALS: Tonight is Vancouver\u2019s final home game of the 2025-26 season, before the Canucks end their season in Edmonton on Thursday evening. <\/p>\n

From Brendan Batchelor of Sportsnet 650, here\u2019s how the Canucks lined up in Sunday\u2019s overtime victory over the Anaheim Ducks \u2013 <\/p>\n

Projected #Canucks<\/a> lines vs. @AnaheimDucks<\/a> <\/p>\n

O\u2019Connor. Rossi. Karlsson.
\u00d6hgren. Blueger. Boeser.
DeBrusk. EP40. H\u00f6glander.
Douglas. Mueller. R\u00e4ty.<\/p>\n

Buium. Hronek.
MP29. Willander.
EP25. Kudryavtsev.<\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd45Tolopilo\ud83e\udd45<\/p>\n

5pm on @Sportsnet650<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/J6DNM1E8Qt<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GUGNUP1eQc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Brendan Batchelor (@BatchHockey) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u2019s action, their first back-to-back victories since a four-game winning streak in December. <\/p>\n

Storyline Of The Day \u2013 Job Not Yet Complete
Well, Job 1 is complete. But there is still much to play for. <\/p>\n

With yesterday\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Now, the Kings are battling for seeding. Here\u2019s what we know. <\/p>\n

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\u2019t surpass the Golden Knights. <\/p>\n

The second and third seeds in the Pacific Division, as well as both wild card berths, are still up for grabs. <\/p>\n

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 \u2013 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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

Ultimately the Kings can\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n

Anze Kopitar \u2013 Anything can happen, really. We\u2019re going to play our best and see where that lands, see where we\u2019re going to go. We all know, you can\u2019t relax in this league, you\u2019ve got to keep on building and keep working on your game. Come Game 1, whoever we\u2019re playing, we\u2019ve got to make sure we\u2019re sharp and we\u2019re going to use these two games to get the mindset ready and go from there. <\/p>\n

Quinton Byfield \u2013 There can\u2019t be any let up. It doesn\u2019t matter where Vancouver or Calgary are in the standings, it\u2019s like Smitty has been saying, these teams are just in our way right now. That\u2019s how we\u2019ve got to look at it and just keep going and just keep the momentum rolling. <\/p>\n

Trevor Moore \u2013 Yeah, we want to keep it rolling into the playoffs. That\u2019s the number one goal here. There\u2019s still seeding and stuff so we want to win these games. <\/p>\n

Still, you can\u2019t 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 \u2013 Colorado, Vegas, Edmonton, Anaheim, with varying degrees of likelihood. That\u2019ll be determined here over the next three days. Tonight\u2019s 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\u2019 regular-season finale. Then, the stage is set for Thursday\u2019s regular-season finale, as the Kings, Ducks, Mammoth and Oilers all play Game 82 that evening. <\/p>\n

Much more to come and we\u2019ll see how things continue to shake out. <\/p>\n

3 To Watch For \u2013
\u2013 Nice milestone for forward Alex Laferriere last night in Seattle, as he reached the 20-goal mark for the first time in the NHL.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n

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\u2019s been a terrific third NHL season for Laferriere. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe plays hard, Laf, penalty kills, power play, finishes checks. I rely on him a lot,\u201d D.J. Smith said of Laferriere. \u201cAs a coach, coming in and taking over, you just find yourself certain guys you\u2019re comfortable with. You just look at his minutes and he\u2019s a guy that I rely on in all situations. That line in general continues to be really good.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2013 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019s unlikely that the Kings will know their fate in terms of seeding and opponent, so it doesn\u2019t feel at this time like they\u2019ll be making some of the wholesale changes that we\u2019ve seen from other teams around the NHL. With that being said, the Kings have numerous players battling through injuries. In some cases, they\u2019ve 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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll ask D.J. Smith in today\u2019s pre-game media availability, scheduled for 5:45 PM at Rogers Arena. <\/p>\n

\u2013 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. <\/p>\n

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\u2019t 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. <\/p>\n

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. <\/p>\n

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!<\/p>\n