Los Angeles, CA - The Los Angeles Kings (47-24-9) face the Seattle Kraken (35-40-6) in a season series winner-take-all match at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, WA on Tuesday, April 15.
Both the Kraken and the Kings won two games apiece during the 2024-2025, and notably the last time the LA Kings played the Kraken on home ice, they were shocked with a 2-1 loss on Monday, April 7. With the Las Vegas Golden Knights clinching the Pacific Division, though the Kings play these games with the intent to maintain their second place standing which affects seeding for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Notably, many of the Kings' best stars including defenseman Drew Doughty, defenseman Mikey Anderson, center Anze Kopitar, right wing Quinton Byfield, and defenseman Joel Edmundson are out in order to rest them with the playoffs right around the corner.
FIRST PERIOD
Los Angeles have deployed the B-squad to face the Kraken tonight, with goaltender David Rittich starting for the Kings. The first period begins with the Kings' B squad and the Kraken vying for control of the puck.
LA commits the first penalty of the night - defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov with a hooking penalty. Seattle begin the first period with a free power play against the B-squad. The Kraken make no use of the power play, but neither team has much offensive momentum at the moment.
As the former half of the first period comes around, both teams play relatively clean hockey and Seattle surprisingly has made an impressive amount of shots at the Los Angeles net -- 11 shots compared to the Kings' 3 shots. So far, neither team has broken through, despite some excellent stick play by both teams.
AS I SPEAK, THE RINK HAS WOKEN UP AS KINGS CENTER SAMUEL HELENIUS, WITH THE ASSIST BY GAVRIKOV TO REDEEM HIMSELF, 1-0
BIG SAMMY GETS US STARTED! pic.twitter.com/sIYItUYWnh
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 16, 2025
Los Angeles has jolted their offensive momentum during this first period, even with many bench players getting to shine on the hockey rink tonight. Meanwhile, Seattle commits their first penalty --- tripping against LA King left wing Trevor Moore ---, granting the Kings their first power play.
AS I WRITE THAT, ALEX TURCOTTE TIPS IN ANOTHER GOAL FOR THE KINGS, WITH LEFT WING KEVIN FIALA AND RIGHT WING ADRIAN KEMPE SCORING A POWER PLAY GOAL, 2-0
TURCY DAY! pic.twitter.com/W0KbHKbx05
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 16, 2025
The Kings' B-squad so far during the first period has kept the same offensive prowess the team is known for, peaking at the right time as the Stanley Cup Playoffs round the corner.
SECOND PERIOD
The second period starts and so far both teams vie for control of the puck. Kraken defenseman Vince Mann has been penalized orignally for slashing Kuzmenko, but now he has been docked another penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct against the Kings' B-squad players, granting LA a power play.
The Kings get nothing out of their second power play.
As the period progresses, Seattle has gotten fairly aggressive in their shots. Kraken left wing Tye Kartye scores the first goal for his team with his own unassisted "I'm the man" shot into the LA net to keep the Kraken within one score, 2-1.
Los Angeles defenseman Kyle Burroughs commits the second penalty -- high sticking ---, granting the Kraken another power play. Ultimately, the Kraken are unable to break through the Kings' defense, which burned time off the clock despite the Kraken's brazen amount of shots to the LA net.
Now, the Kings are giving away power plays left and right, as center Phillip Danault get penalized for tripping. As a result, Seattle defenseman Brandon Montour scores another goal for the Kraken, tying the game2-2.
So far in the second period, both goals made by Seattle were capitalized on through power plays and mistakes made by the Kings' B-squad. At the 7:00 minute mark, the Kraken have also outhit the Kings 21-8, despite the Kings not being afraid to put some hits onto the Seattle roster on ice.
Adrian Kempe has now made history for himself, scoring 400 points throughout his National Hockey League career.
AND WITH THAT IN MIND, KINGS LEFT WING WARREN FOEGELE SCORES ANOTHER GOAL FOR THE KINGS WITH A BACKHAND SHOT TO PUT THEM AHEAD AGAIN, 3-2
FAST HANDS FOEGS! pic.twitter.com/ZEdTdvJzVf
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 16, 2025
OH MY, NOW THE KINGS HAVE GONE BACK-TO-BACK WITH RIGHT WING ALEX LAFERRIERE HITTING A SNAP SHOT TO EXTEND THE KINGS' LEAD, 4-2
LaFOURriere pic.twitter.com/5cHnEzHOhx
— x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 16, 2025
Los Angeles have redeemed themselves this second period with their offensive bounce back, but the penalties they have made which at one point kept the Kraken in the game linger.