Kings Host Nemesis Oilers in Crucial Playoff Clash

Los Angeles looks to end playoff drought against Edmonton, who have eliminated them four years running.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:54pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and Edmonton Oilers, with the players and action broken down into overlapping angular shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The Kings and Oilers renew their heated playoff rivalry, with both teams battling for crucial points in the tight Western Conference standings.San Jose Today

The Los Angeles Kings are clinging to the final playoff spot in the Western Conference as they host the Edmonton Oilers, who have bounced the Kings from the postseason in the first round four years in a row. With the Kings' season on the line, they'll look to their top line of Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, and Viktor Arvidsson to lead the way against the high-powered Oilers, who have been winning without injured stars Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman.

Why it matters

This game represents a crucial test for the Kings as they fight to end their playoff drought and secure a postseason berth. The Oilers have been a persistent thorn in the Kings' side, eliminating them from the playoffs in each of the last four seasons. A win over their nemesis would be a major confidence boost for the Kings as they look to make a late-season push.

The details

The Kings currently hold the final playoff spot in the West by just a single point, with the Nashville Predators right on their heels. A win over the Oilers would give the Kings some breathing room and potentially allow them to climb up the standings in the tight Pacific Division race. However, the Oilers have been surging without injured stars Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, led by the dominant play of captain Connor McDavid.

  • The Kings and Oilers will face off on Saturday, April 10, 2026 at 1 p.m. PT.
  • The Kings will finish the regular season with three games in four nights, including a road trip to Seattle, Vancouver, and Calgary.

The players

Anze Kopitar

The Kings' veteran captain and leading scorer, who centers the team's top line.

Adrian Kempe

The Kings' leading goal-scorer this season, playing on Kopitar's wing.

Connor McDavid

The Oilers' superstar captain, who has been dominant in the absence of Leon Draisaitl.

Leon Draisaitl

The Oilers' German megastar, who has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since March 15.

Zach Hyman

The Oilers' sturdy and prolific forward, who is also out with an undisclosed injury.

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What they’re saying

“If you're chasing and you rack up wins, you feel that hunger and you want to go out there and do it every night.”

— Adrian Kempe, Kings leading scorer

“The league is run by the big boys, and you look at the best teams in the league, they all have stars and they all have guys that make plays at big times. Right now, that line is doing it for us.”

— Todd McLellan, Kings head coach

“Everybody wants to be first in the division and have the playoffs clinched already, but we're not in that situation. It's really tight from the first spot in our division to the last-place wild card.”

— Adrian Kempe, Kings leading scorer

What’s next

The Kings will finish the regular season with three crucial games in four nights, including a road trip to Seattle, Vancouver, and Calgary. Their postseason fate could come down to the final stretch.

The takeaway

This game against the Oilers represents a pivotal moment in the Kings' season as they fight to end their playoff drought. A win over their longtime nemesis would be a major confidence boost and keep them in the hunt for a higher seed in the tight Pacific Division race.