Kings left wing Trevor Moore, left, and Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Seth Jones reach for the puck during the second period of their regular-season finale on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) scores against Kings defenseman Jacob Moverare (43) and goaltender Cam Talbot (39) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Chicago Blackhawks left wing Lukas Reichel (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of ..read more

In a season that has felt more like three campaigns than one for the Kings, it seemed fitting that their destiny and destination would come down to the final date on the NHL’s calendar on Thursday, when they’ll welcome the Chicago Blackhawks. After soaring early, plummeting in January and regaining at least some of their touch from the fall following a coaching change, the Kings will not be able to make spring travel plans until the last second. Thursday’s docket will determine if they are headed to Dallas to face the Central Division champion Stars or to Edmonton to kick off the postseason ag ..read more

Kings left wing Trevor Moore, left, and Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin vie for the puck during the second period on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Minnesota Wild center Marcus Johansson (90) controls the puck as Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson (44) pursues him during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong) Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) scores past Kings goaltender Cam Talbot (39) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Monday, April 15, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Phot ..read more

As the Kings hurled toward a probable third consecutive playoff matchup with the Edmonton Oilers, they prepared for their penultimate game of the regular season, which will offer them a chance to sweep the season series from the Minnesota Wild. Following their 3-1 win against the Ducks Saturday, Kings interim coach Jim Hiller repeated the same thing he said in response to a question about resting captain Anze Kopitar against the Ducks (which he did) regarding Kopitar’s status in Games 81 and 82. “We’ll see.” In Kopitar’s stead Saturday slotted the ballyhooed offseason acquisition Pierre-Luc Du ..read more

Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck past William Lagesson #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Greg Cronin of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Jim Hiller of the Los Angeles Kings talks to his team during ..read more

Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck past William Lagesson #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Greg Cronin of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG) Head coach Jim Hiller of the Los Angeles Kings talks to his team during ..read more

The final installment of this season’s Freeway Faceoff will unfold on Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena, where the Kings will welcome the Ducks. When they last clashed Tuesday at Honda Center, the Ducks spoiled the Kings’ chances to clinch a playoff berth and added intrigue to the season series with a 3-1 win. Though the Kings have since clinched, they were still not locked into a specific first-round matchup as of Friday while the Ducks, whose playoff hopes went from slim to nonexistent long ago, could salvage five out of a possible eight points against the rival Kings in the season series ..read more

Kings goaltender Cam Talbot, right, deflects a shot as Calgary Flames center Connor Zary watches during the third period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Calgary Flames center Kevin Rooney, left, and Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson watch the puck as it flies during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom, right, stops a shot by Kings center Anze Kopitar during the first period on Thursday night at Crypto.com Arena. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) Kings left wing Kevi ..read more

After a Freeway Flop against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center, the Kings got back in the saddle as they prepared to welcome the Calgary Flames on Thursday. The confines of Crypto.com Arena have been much friendlier after the Kings returned from their extended All-Star break Feb. 10. Since that point, they have the best home record in the NHL while placing in the bottom third of the league on the road. That’s an about face from their first 48 games, which they started with an NHL record 11 consecutive away wins en route to the fifth-best road mark in the league but a meager No. 27 ran ..read more

The Kings’ Akil Thomas (41), right, scores a goal past Ducks goaltender Lukas Dostal (1) during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) The Kings celebrate after Akil Thomas (41) scored a goal during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Tuesday night at Honda Center. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) Kings center Akil Thomas (41) celebrates with the team bench after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Ducks, Tuesday ..read more