Apr 14, 2025; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Los Angeles Kings defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov (84) and defenceman Brandt Clarke (92) have a good time their win with goaltender Darcy Kuemper (35) in opposition to the Edmonton Oilers on the finish of the third interval at Rogers Place. Obligatory Credit score: Walter Tychnowicz-Imagn Photographs The Los Angeles Kings can relaxation straightforward.
Heading into video games Tuesday on the street in opposition to the Seattle Kraken and Thursday at home in opposition to the Calgary Flames to shut the common season, the Kings have already clinched home-ice benefit within the opening spherical of the NHL’s Western Convention playoffs.
And maybe no group might use home ice extra.
The Kings’ opening-round postseason foe would be the defending convention champion Oilers, led by stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl — the fourth consecutive season that Los Angeles and Edmonton will sq. off in Spherical 1. The Kings misplaced their first-round collection in opposition to the Oilers every of the previous three years, with every matchup getting progressively shorter — seven video games in 2022, adopted by six video games in 2023 and 5 video games final spring.
The Oilers had the home-ice edge in all of these collection.
So maybe it was becoming that the Kings, who’ve the league’s finest home document this season (31-5-4), clinched their first-round destiny with a 5-0 victory Monday in Edmonton. Los Angeles’ Adrian Kempe registered a objective and two assists within the win.
“It means so much,” Kempe stated of sealing home-ice benefit. “We have established our home recreation properly all season. We have now actually good confidence there, and we have proven over the past couple of weeks that we are able to play higher on the street as properly. I believe contemplating (the Oilers) had been lacking plenty of guys tonight, we nonetheless performed to our strengths and performed a constant and strong recreation.
“We weren’t dishonest for offense, and particular groups have been actually good over the past couple of weeks, too, which goes to be actually necessary going into the playoffs. I believe we’re fairly proud of our recreation proper now.”
Kevin Fiala and Warren Foegele every had a objective and an help for Los Angeles (47-24-9, 103 factors), which has received three video games in a row and 7 of its previous eight.
Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich mixed on the shutout, with Kuemper making 16 saves earlier than leaving with 11:47 left after the Kings took a five-goal lead. Rittich stopped 5 pictures the remainder of the best way.
“Simply late within the recreation. We thought as soon as we received 5 that we had been fairly comfy, and ‘Ritter’ goes to play (at Seattle),” Kings coach Jim Hiller stated of the goaltending change. “He hasn’t performed in a very long time (since March 30), and it was an opportunity to get him just a few pucks earlier than he performs back-to-back. It most likely serves each functions, to get him warmed up a bit of bit and to give Darcy a relaxation.”
The Kings sustained a probably huge blow as younger standout Quinton Byfield, who scored for the fourth straight recreation halfway by the primary interval, left late within the second after getting hauled to the ice and cross-checked behind the helmet by Darnell Nurse. The Oilers defenseman was assessed a recreation misconduct.
It was a chippy recreation between the Pacific Division rivals, with 21 penalties whistled.
“No replace,” Hiller stated of Byfield postgame. “He wasn’t ready to end, that is all. It does not matter how I noticed it.”
The Kraken (35-40-6, 76 factors) will wrap up the fourth season in franchise historical past by lacking the playoffs for the third time.
Seattle has received 4 of its previous six video games, together with a 2-1 victory April 7 at Los Angeles.
The Kraken are coming off a 4-3 shootout win in opposition to the visiting St. Louis Blues on Saturday, when Jaden Schwartz scored his team-leading twenty fifth objective.
“It is particular to rating each time,” stated Schwartz, who performed elements of 10 seasons for the Blues from 2011-12 to 2020-21 and helped them hoist the Stanley Cup in 2019. “I’ve received plenty of good buddies over there and plenty of good recollections, so it is good to get the win and to contribute.”
–Area Stage Media
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