Kings Defeat Canucks 4-1 Behind Kempe's Two Goals

LA Kings move back into second wild card position in the Western Conference with victory over Vancouver

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:25am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game, with players and the rink broken down into abstract shapes and colors, conveying the intensity and dynamism of the sport.The Kings' victory over the Canucks showcases the team's resilience and adaptability as they fight for a playoff spot in the tight Western Conference race.Los Angeles Today

The LA Kings skated to a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena, with forward Adrian Kempe scoring two goals to lead the way. The Kings jumped out to an early 1-0 lead and never relinquished the advantage, adding insurance tallies from Joel Armia and Trevor Moore to secure the win and move back into the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Why it matters

The victory was a crucial one for the Kings as they continue to jockey for playoff positioning in the tight Western Conference race. The win over the lower-ranked Canucks keeps the Kings in the hunt for a postseason berth, with Kempe's continued offensive production a key factor in their success.

The details

The Kings opened the scoring just 89 seconds into the game, as defenseman Brandt Clarke set up Kempe for his 33rd goal of the season. The Canucks tied it late in the first, but the Kings quickly regained the lead through Armia's tally. Kempe then scored his second of the night in the second period, and Moore added an insurance goal in the third to seal the 4-1 victory.

  • The Kings scored the game's opening goal just 89 seconds into the first period.
  • The Canucks tied the game at 1-1 late in the first period.
  • The Kings restored their one-goal lead less than two minutes after the Canucks' tying goal.
  • Kempe scored his second goal of the game in the second period to make it 3-1 Kings.
  • Moore scored the Kings' fourth goal midway through the third period.

The players

Adrian Kempe

A forward for the LA Kings who scored two goals in the game, including his team-leading 34th of the season. Kempe has now recorded three consecutive 70-point seasons for the Kings.

Joel Armia

A forward for the LA Kings who scored the go-ahead goal in the first period to make it 2-1 for the home team.

Trevor Moore

A forward for the LA Kings who scored the team's fourth goal in the third period to extend the lead to 4-1.

Brandt Clarke

A defenseman for the LA Kings who assisted on the game's opening goal scored by Kempe.

Marcus Pettersson

A defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks who scored the team's lone goal to tie the game at 1-1 in the first period.

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What they’re saying

“Yeah, I'm just trying to keep up with the other four, honestly it feels good. It seems like that's the game plan, get us out there with them and let Clarkie make some plays and get some movement around. So, it's been working. I think Bread brings nice offensive ability, he's drawing up the plays for us, he's kind of the mind behind it. I just kind of listen to what he says.”

— Joel Edmundson, Defenseman

“Give Vancouver credit. They played hard the entire night, they had us in for bunches in our zone. I think someone asked me this morning about playing these games and I said they're the hardest ones, because over there, you've got people fighting for a job every single game here down the stretch, to try and be in the NHL. A lot of those kids played hard over there. They forechecked, they made it hard on us.”

— D.J. Smith, Interim Head Coach

What’s next

The Kings will look to build on this victory as they continue their push for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Their next game is against the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday, April 13th.

The takeaway

The Kings' win over the Canucks was a crucial one as they fight to maintain their position in the playoff race. Kempe's continued offensive production and the team's ability to respond after Vancouver's tying goal were key factors in securing the victory.