Kings Secure Playoff Berth with Victory Against Kraken
SEATTLE — Quinton Byfield delivered a standout performance with two goals as the Kings secured a playoff spot following a 5-3 victory over the Seattle Kraken on Monday night. Goaltender Anton Forsberg was instrumental with 28 saves, helping the Kings clinch their fifth consecutive playoff berth.
In addition to Byfield, Trevor Moore, Adrian Kempe, and Alex Laferriere found the net for Los Angeles, marking their fifth straight win. With only two games remaining in the season, the Kings currently occupy the second wild-card position in the Western Conference and sit fourth in the Pacific Division, just two points shy of second-place Edmonton. The win, coupled with Nashville’s loss to San José, ensured the Kings’ playoff qualification, eliminating both the Predators and the Sharks from postseason contention.
The Kraken, already eliminated from playoff contention, managed to score three goals in the third period courtesy of Adam Larsson, Frederick Gaudreau, and Bobby McMann. Nikke Kokko, making his second career start, recorded 25 saves, while Matty Beniers registered two assists.
Tensions flared early in the match, as Samuel Helenius and Jacob Melanson engaged in a fight with 7:57 left in the first period, leading both players to receive five-minute major penalties. This altercation followed their earlier roughing penalties for an attempted confrontation.
Byfield opened the scoring after exploiting a failed pinch by Ryan Lindgren for a two-on-one opportunity. He then extended his tally to 22 goals for the season with a breakaway, capitalizing on a misplayed puck by Lindgren at the Kings’ blue line.
Moore added a goal during the second period, taking advantage of a rebound. Although the Kraken narrowed the gap twice in the third, Laferriere’s empty-net goal in the final moments sealed their fate. Notably, this loss marked Seattle’s first defeat to the Kings this season and continued their struggle, as the team has not won three consecutive games since January.
