Kempe’s two goals lift Kings back into wild-card position
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Los Angeles — Adrian Kempe scored twice as the Los Angeles Kings defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-1 on Thursday night, moving the Kings into a Western Conference wild-card spot; Joel Armia and Trevor Moore also scored and Anton Forsberg made 24 saves.
The victory, Los Angeles’ third straight, put the Kings one point ahead of the Nashville Predators for the second wild-card spot with a game in hand; Nashville’s simultaneous loss at Utah and Vancouver’s 10 losses in 11 games tightened the late-season playoff race.
More context
Timeline
- 1. Early season/ongoing: Kings positioned to control postseason path entering late schedule.
- 2. Prior to matchup: Canucks lost 10 of their previous 11 games.
- 3. Thursday night: Kings defeated Canucks 4-1; Kempe scored two goals.
- 4. Concurrently Thursday: Nashville lost 4-1 at Utah, affecting wild-card standings.
- 5. After game: Kings moved one point ahead of Nashville with a game in hand.
Why it matters
If you're a Kings fan, this is a big deal. The team's playoff hopes are alive and well. The Kings' recent win streak and Nashville's loss put them in a good spot. Keep an eye on the next few games. They'll decide the wild-card spot.
Sources
JQJO Editorial Desk · Human reviewed · AI assisted. Report a correction.
