Los Angeles Kings Hit 100 Points, Clinch Playoff Spot – And Are Ready for More

The Los Angeles Kings became the ninth team to qualify for the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs on Sunday, with a workmanlike 4-1 road win over the Vancouver Canucks.

"I don't want to say it's a relief because we've sensed that it's been coming," said coach Todd McLellan. "But once you get that asterisk by your name, you can breathe a little bit. It's a hell of an accomplishment for our group."

The win also makes the Kings the seventh NHL team to hit 100 points this season — one better than their 99-total from last season, when they finished third in the Pacific Division and took the Edmonton Oilers to seven games in their first post-season appearance since 2018. 

"Second year in a row — it's a sign that the team is trending in the right direction," said captain Anze Kopitar. "We like where we're at, but we still have five games (remaining), I believe. So, gotta focus on those and make sure we're sharp going into the playoffs."

Last year, many fans were surprised to see the Kings beat out the Vegas Golden Knights for a post-season berth. This time around, they won't be sneaking up on anybody. 

They're structurally strong, giving up fewer than 28 shots per game. They've upped their offensive punch, with five 20-plus goal scorers toplined by Adrian Kempe at 36. And on nights like Sunday, when their top scorers are held in check, secondary threats like Alex Iafallo, Arthur Kaliyev and Blake Lizotte can step up to light the lamp.

Iafallo picked up his 13th and 14th of the year on Sunday and was named the game's first star.

His first goal came six seconds into a first-period 4-on-4 situation after he was tripped by Vancouver's Anthony Beauvillier while killing a penalty to Quinton Byfield.

"Kopi made a nice faceoff," Iafallo recalled. "Up to 'Dewy' (Drew Doughty). And then down to Kopi and I just had to hammer it home."

Kempe was the fourth player in that formation. He was also a part of the pinpoint-passing play, picking up the secondary assist.

The eventual game-winner also came off Iafallo's stick on a power play early in the second period.

"Good shot by 'Arvie' (Victor Arvidsson) and I just had to tap it in," Iafallo said.

At that point, the Canucks were outshooting the Kings 13-7. Vancouver managed only 12 more shots in the final 37-plus minutes of the game — and didn't get another puck past Joonas Korpisalo after Brock Boeser opened the scoring less than six minutes into the first.

Playing their fourth road game in six nights, and on a back-to-back following a 3-1 win in Seattle on Saturday, the savvy Kings calmly defended their lead and collected their two points — improving their record to 12-2-2 since Feb. 28.

"We were talking about it on the bench," Iafallo said. "Just trying to do the best that we can to get the puck out and stick within our game to keep that lead and keep pushing forward."

And while the Kings sent shockwaves through the NHL when they elected to bring in Korpisalo and part ways with their 2012 Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Jonathan Quick, the gambit has worked out well so far. 

Since landing in the City of Angels, Korpisalo has posted a 1.75 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage in eight games. And the Kings have only allowed more than two goals in one game since the trade to bring in Korpisalo and Vladislav Gavrikov from Columbus was consummated.

"He's been a real good addition for us," said McLellan when asked about Korpisalo. "Between him and (Pheonix) Copley, they've given us a tandem that we trust immensely, that we can run on any given night."

For the most part, successful NHL teams generally try to ride one goaltender in the playoffs. Since Korpisalo joined the Kings, he and Copley have basically been alternating starts.

When asked about whether teams still expected to run with one primary stopper in the post-season, McLellan offered an anecdote from the Detroit Red Wings' Stanley Cup run in 2008, where he was an assistant coach.

"We started with Dominic Hasek — pretty damn good goaltender with a long line of experience," he said. "Then we had to go to Chris Osgood, and by the time we're done, they split the games in the playoffs. 

"You need them for momentum. You need them for injury. You need them for certain opponents. I don't know what we're going to do yet, but I know we have options."

Before the playoffs begin, the 2022-23 Los Angeles Kings have a chance to make history. With five regular-season games remaining, they're just five points shy of the Kings' all-time single-season mark of 105 points. That was set by the 1974-75 squad, which was anchored by Hart Trophy runner-up Rogie Vachon in net. 

With just two points currently separating first from third in the Pacific Division, final positioning and first-round matchups remain very much in flux. After their weekend wins, Los Angeles sits one point behind the Vegas Golden Knights — and one ahead of the Edmonton Oilers. 

The Kings will get at least one day off between each of their remaining games and have no more significant travel — just a quick flight to Vegas and back and a trip down I-5 to Anaheim.

They'll face the Oilers, the Golden Knights and the Colorado Avalanche next week, then finish off the regular season with a rematch against the Canucks and a final Freeway Faceoff against the Ducks.