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Sharlette Shahbazyan

sharlette@THNews
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Covering LA Kings for The Hockey News
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Kraken Defeat Kings 2-1

1
Apr 8, 25
LA Kings

Kings Shutout Oilers 3-0

Apr 5, 25
LA Kings

Leafs Top Kings 3-1

1
Mar 29, 25
LA Kings

Entry-Level Deal for Jared Woolley in LA

1
Mar 28, 25
LA Kings

Kings Shut Down Rangers in 3-1 Victory

1
Mar 26, 25
LA Kings

Kings Beat Hurricanes 7-2

1
Mar 22, 25
LA Kings

Kings Dominate Blackhawks in 3-1 Win

Mar 21, 25
LA Kings

Wild Secures 3-1 Victory Over Kings

2
Mar 18, 25
LA Kings

Kings Shutout Capitals 3-0

5
Mar 14, 25
LA Kings

Kings Crush Islanders 4-1

1
Mar 12, 25
LA Kings

Kings Steal 6-5 Victory From Knights

3
Mar 10, 25
LA Kings

Kings Defeat Blues in Overtime 2-1

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5
Mar 9, 25
LA Kings

Blues Defeat Kings 3-2 in Shootout

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Mar 6, 25
LA Kings

Stars Defeat Kings 6-2

The Los Angeles Kings (31-18-8) hit the road for a three-game trip, with tonight's stop against the Dallas Stars (38-19-2). With two important points on the line, the Kings, boasting 70 points, faced an intense matchup against the Dallas Stars. Darcy Kuemper was in net for Los Angeles while Jake Oettinger took his position for Dallas. The Stars ultimately defeated the Kings 6-2.  First Period Action in Texas The opening period witnessed a flurry of action from the forwards as both teams battled consistently for possession of the puck. Five minutes into the game, Jason Robertson scored a snap shot past Kuemper's net, his twenty-fifth of the season, putting the Stars up on the board by one. Warren Foegele answered back with a quick shot at the 13:16 mark. Tied 1-1, the tension was thick, unsure of who the next play would favor. As the period slowly hit the half-way point, Matt Duchene led the Stars 2-1 with a tip-in. The Kings fought relentlessly with no luck. Just a few minutes away from intermission, Logan Stankoven created a scoring chance that Kuemper and neither of the defensemen could clear away. The Kings retreated to the tunnel, with the 3-1 lead pressing down on them. On Edge in the Second Frame After the first twenty minutes, the Kings and Stars returned from a short rest and regroup to begin the second period. Five minutes in, Trevor Lewis was given a 2-minute minor for tripping against Robertson and that opened the door for Wyatt Johnston, putting Dallas up 4-1 on a power-play. At the 8:00 minute mark, the Stars had outshot the Kings 22-13, an advantage that highlighted LA's struggles. Trevor Moore fired back with a wrap-around goal as he snuck it into Oettinger's crease. With forty minutes of hockey over, the Stars were ahead by two goals. Kings led in faceoffs, 23-18. Third Period Underway In the final stretch, the Kings ran down the clock, with no ability for a comeback. At 15:55, Stankoven netted his second of the game, a backhand goal, sealing Dallas's victory. Not generating enough scoring chances against the Stars, Los Angeles found themselves consistently outshot and defenseless. Sam Steel buried it, a shorthanded goal, making it 6-2, while on the Kings' power play. Then, Moore and Quinton Byfield challenged Oettinger, but he denied both attempts, keeping the score in Dallas's favor. When the clock hit zero, the home team secured two crucial points and sent the Kings onto their next opponent, the St. Louis Blues. 1y
LA Kings

THN Kings Roundtable Discussion: Can the Kings Reverse the Trend of Early Playoff Exits?

Can the Kings break the trend of early playoff exits? If they face the Edmonton Oilers again, what needs to change for a different outcome? The Kings can break the trend of early playoff exits, that's a possibility for sure. In order to do that, the Kings need a reliable Goaltender who can remain calm and steady in playoff mode. Far too often, their goalie "wobbles" under pressure. At the end of the 2023-24 season, LA Kings Insider Zach Dooley noted, "[a]s it comes to the playoffs, I think that [Cam] Talbot’s play was certainly not where he would have liked it to be, but he was also far from the only player who might say that from the five-game exit. At the end of the day, the Kings conceded 17 goals in Games 1-3 with Talbot in net." Kuemper has been in the league for over a decade and has won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Therefore, he is seen as a veteran netminder who has winning experience. - Sharlette Shahbazyan It's not likely. I, for one, am not buying that stock. The Kings will likely land a depth player by the deadline, like Forward Jake Evans, who won't thread the needle against a team as formulaic as the Oilers. Even if they find a way to pull off a trade to get Forwards Brock Boeser or Alex Tuch (which is very unlikely without mortgaging the team's future), are those players bringing the type of elite game-breaking skills to move past the reigning Western Conference champions? Maybe the Oilers win the Pacific Division and the Kings face the Golden Knights instead. Which do you prefer to be beaten with: the bat or the wrench? - Connor Doyle It’s certainly possible they get past the Oilers, it’s just not probable. Edmonton knows how to beat LA and, quite frankly, the Kings haven’t changed enough from the last three meetings to surprise the Oilers in any way. What needs to change? The Byfield line will have to create actual matchup issues instead of theoretical ones and the penalty kill needs to be at least 75% successful. Both are easier said than done. However, if the matchup is Vegas, I believe the Kings will be a very tough out for the Golden Knights. In fact, I would say I like LA’s chances as I’ve long felt that the Kings match up very well against VGK. - Karo Blikian Yes, the Kings can break that trend and do so quite easily. All they need to do is not cheat the game. That's it. The Hockey Gods will reward them for their efforts if they play Kings hockey. Remember, LA took Edmonton to a Game 7. They were one win away from this three-year skid narrative never existing. One more win. That's all that needs to change. - Keith Fries 1y
LA Kings

Canucks Defeat Kings 3-2 in Overtime

A strenuous West Coast road trip began for the Vancouver Canucks as they landed in Southern California, ready to face off against their rivals in a four-game stretch and especially that night in Los Angeles. The Canucks (27-20-11) faced off against the Kings (31-17-8) in heated rivalry, which delivered an exciting game. The Kings had dominated at home this season, possessing a 19-3-2 record. The goaltending matchup featured David Rittich for Los Angeles and Kevin Lankinen for Vancouver. Defenseman Drew Doughty was ruled day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Ultimately, the Canucks defeated the Kings 3-2 in overtime.  First Period Highlights The opening frame witnessed a slow but tense pace, as neither team wanted to make a mistake in the early period. After a few rough shoves from the Canucks, the referee stepped in to separate the players from escalating into a full-blown fight. At the 10-minute mark, Vancouver was up on LA in shots, 3-1. The Canucks struck luck with a wrist goal from Nils Hoglander, his fifth of the season. The period concluded with Vancouver leading 1-0.  Canucks Look To Extend Lead in Second The Kings began the second period by playing catch up, while the Canucks attempted to extend their lead. With Los Angeles struggling to tie the game, an opportunity to score was presented in the form of a minor penalty against Jake DeBrusk for tripping Phillip Danault. However, Vancouver's penalty kill unit proved to be resilient, shutting down the Kings' power play and any scoring chance. At the 6:53 mark, Conor Garland found the back of the net for his fifteenth goal, increasing Vancouver's score. The Kings looked frustrated as both teams went to their locker rooms, with the Canucks leading 2-0.  Third Period Push In the final twenty minutes, the Kings were determined to get back in the game and score a goal on home ice. Off their game tonight, the team seemed to be lacking energy and struggled to maintain possession of the puck throughout the first two periods.  Los Angeles fought desperately to score a goal but Lankinen remained steadfast. Too many missed shots from the Kings led to a lack of putting pressure on the opposing goalie and breakaway opportunities. With ten minutes left to spare, Adrian Kempe netted a snap shot, bringing the Kings within one goal. Warren Foegele then tied it up with a late tip-in, with assists from Jacob Moverare and Jordan Spence. Vancouver and Los Angeles were tied 2-2 as they headed to overtime.  OT Means Extra Time Overtime began with a heart-pounding start. Drew O'Connor received a tripping penalty against Kevin Fiala, but Los Angeles was unable to score. With 54 seconds left, Garland scored the game-winning goal as the Canucks defeated the Kings 3-2. 1y
LA Kings

Kings’ Trevor Moore Adjusting to Lineup

Trevor Moore is Finally Finding His Game When the Kings Need Him Most.  Trevor Moore's 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Kings hasn't been his best since his arrival in LA. While the Thousand Oaks native struggled with injury and has only been back in the lineup since Jan. 4, he’s still facing the challenge of finding the consistency he showed in previous seasons. Although he’s accumulated 10 goals, 15 assists, and 25 points in 46 games, it’s clear that his injury had caused a setback in the effectiveness of his game.  Moore’s best season of his NHL career arrived in 2023-24 when he collected 31 goals, 26 assists, and 57 points in all 82 games, all career highs. Not only did this emphasize his growth as a player, but it showcased his ability to adapt and succeed in an elevated role. His excellent stickhandling skills and snipe shot aided the American-born winger in making him a dangerous player when he had the puck. Moore’s on-ice numbers make him a reliable teammate by proving his value as a positive impact on the game. Throughout the current NHL season, as the California local recovered from an upper-body injury and found his way back into the lineup, he’s had to adapt to the ever-changing pace of the game. Moore's two-goal, two-point performance in the Kings' 5-2 victory over the Golden Knights on Feb. 24 proved pivotal in securing the win and a step in the right direction. This marked his second multi-goal game of the season, highlighting his crucial contributions and securing a hard-earned win. His ability to find open ice and capitalize on scoring opportunities was a key factor in the Kings' win last night.  Clocking in 17 minutes of ice time of the 2024-25 season, Moore is trying to show he can still be effective and that he can overcome the challenges he’s faced. While this season hasn’t been his most consistent or productive statistically, the question remains whether he can regain his form and capitalize on his offensive potential. Notably, Moore signed a five-year, $21 million contract extension with the Kings on Dec. 15, 2022.  As the 2025 Playoffs slowly approach, not only does the Thousand Oaks native face pressure, but must raise his game to the next level and assist the team with a deeper playoff run. Despite the Kings' struggle for playoff center depth and a trade deadline just around the corner, the Kings are tasked with addressing weaknesses while making crucial decisions such as roster additions. The team should take the route and acquire an experienced backup with remarkable numbers. However, even with roster upgrades, the team’s success will ultimately rely on key contributors like Moore stepping up and proving he can be a difference-maker when it matters the most.1y
LA Kings

Kings Defeat Golden Knights 5-2 in Epic Showdown

The Vegas Golden Knights (34-18-6) were in town to clash against the Los Angeles Kings (31-17-7). Driven by the intense rivalry between these two west-coast teams, it was expected to be a night of bright lights and high-stakes! Darcy Kuemper guarded the net for the Kings while Ilya Samsonov stood tall for the Golden Knights. As the Kings have 18 home games remaining (the most in the NHL this season), they hold an advantage in the playoff race.  Rolling the Dice in the First Period In the first five minutes of the game, the Kings were awarded a power-play as Nicholas Hague sat in the penalty box for delay of game. The Kings attempted to capitalize on this opportunity and took possession of the puck to earn the first goal of the night. Unable to do so, the window to score on the power-play ended and soon enough, another Golden Knight was back in the box, this time, their captain Mark Stone for slashing. After what seemed like eternity, Trevor Moore got the crowd going with a tip-in goal, electrifying the atmosphere. By the 8:48 mark, the Kings had outshot the Knights 9-1 as Vegas remained scoreless. Quinton Byfield was sent to the box for hooking against Tomáš Hertl, creating a tense moment for both teams. The first period winded down with the Kings leading 1-0 Golden Knights.  Second Period Push The second frame opened with the Golden Knights frustrated of trailing behind 1-0. At the 9:33 mark, Vegas's Brayden McNabb puts his team on the board with a wrist shot, sneaking past one into Kuemper's net. Tied 1-1, the game was now anyone's, with the Knights surging. The buzzer sounded, Stone seals the deal by ending the second period with a tip-in goal to lead Vegas 2-1.  Final Frenzy As the Kings scrambled to tie the game, Moore scored his second of the night and delivered a blow to Vegas's hopes. Filled with anticipation and cheers from the crowd, LA tightened their defenses to prevent any more goals, creating a hard-fought defensive stand. At the 11:30 mark, Warren Foegele scored his first of the night and fifteenth of the season with an epic backhand shot that left Samsonov and the Knights stunned. With LA in the lead, the Golden Knights pressed hard for a comeback. In the final minutes of the game, the Kings claimed victory with a slap shot from Joel Edmundson and a backhand from Kevin Fiala, his twenty-third goal of the season. The Golden Knights fell 5-2 to LA, who used their incredible home ice advantage. 1y
LA Kings

Kings Push for Playoffs

The Los Angeles Kings are inching closer to the playoffs with 65 points as of Feb. 17, 2025. The team's performance this season suggests a hopeful playoff run past the first round. The Los Angeles Kings are two months away from the 2025 Playoffs, standing at 65 points before facing the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night, Feb. 22. A win against Utah would increase their chances of securing a playoff berth. The Kings hold third place in the Pacific Division with 65 points below the Vegas Golden Knights in second place with 72 points, following the Edmonton Oilers, tied in the first. The Kings are eager to close the gap as every two points are crucial in clinching a spot. The Oilers' strong performance this season may be a challenge again, as LA has exited the first round of the playoffs twice. With the right strategic moves and effective coaching, it's a possibility the Kings will see a second round. Here's what would need to change: the team needs a reliable and steady goaltender in playoff mode. Darcy Kuemper could be the solution, given his experience as a veteran athlete; however, his ability to perform under pressure would be a huge advantage. Throughout his career, he has posted a solid .914 save percentage (SV%) and was a key contributor in assisting the Colorado Avalanche to the Stanley Cup in 2022.  Beyond goaltending, the Kings will need to improve their consistency on scoring opportunities and create more traffic in front of the net. A weakness of the Kings is their approach when it comes to puck possession. There's not a lot of net-front presence, which limits their scoring chances and a lack of control on the team's power-play. The NHL's average of a power play percentage is 21.44. Meanwhile, the Kings are at a low of 14.63. This difference is where the team can improve further ahead and hopefully advance past the first round.  With the trade deadline less than a month away, the Kings placed Andreas Englund on waivers a week ago, and the Nashville Predators quickly claimed him. This move creates additional cap space for the Kings, whose current cap space is $3,201,743, according to PuckPedia. With eyes on Nashville's Jonathan Marchessault, the Kings may consider him as a potential right winger who could add speed and skill to their top-six forward group.  If the team were to add a dependable goaltender and a right-handed defenseman, it would significantly improve its chances of a deeper playoff run and become a complete team. 1y
LA Kings

The Doughty Effect

1
Feb 17, 25
LA Kings