Kings Face Crunch Time in Columbus

Los Angeles Kings look to bounce back from missed opportunity against Montreal as they begin five-game road trip

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Los Angeles Kings (25-23-14) travel to Columbus to take on the surging Blue Jackets (32-21-9) in a Monday afternoon matchup. The Kings are coming off a tough 4-3 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, a game in which they controlled play but were unable to hold a late lead. With 20 games remaining and a tight playoff race, the Kings cannot afford to let opportunities slip away as they try to climb into a wild card spot. Meanwhile, the Blue Jackets have been one of the hottest teams in the NHL over the past two months, going 14-3-2 during that stretch.

Why it matters

This game represents a crucial test for the Kings as they look to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. A win would move them within one point of a wild card spot, while a loss would leave them further behind. The Kings have played well under interim head coach D.J. Smith, but they need to start converting their strong performances into wins. This early afternoon start on the road also presents a unique challenge, as the Kings adjust to the time change and back-to-back games.

The details

The Kings will be relying on the strong play of defenseman Drew Doughty, who has been a consistent producer against the Blue Jackets throughout his career. Forwards Quinton Byfield and Jared Wright will also be players to watch, as the Kings look for their young talent to make an impact. Columbus has been led by the red-hot play of forward Mason Marchment, who has 11 goals and 19 points in 20 games since joining the team in a trade.

  • The Kings and Blue Jackets were originally scheduled to play on January 26, but the game was postponed due to severe weather in Ohio.
  • Monday's game is set for a 4:00 PM Eastern Time (1:00 PM Pacific Time) puck drop at Nationwide Arena in Columbus.

The players

Drew Doughty

A veteran defenseman for the Los Angeles Kings who has been a consistent producer against the Blue Jackets throughout his career, recording 24 assists and 33 points in his career against Columbus.

Quinton Byfield

A young forward for the Los Angeles Kings who is looking to make an impact in his first game under interim head coach D.J. Smith, who wants to see Byfield use his size and speed to be physical on the forecheck and get to the net.

Jared Wright

A promising young forward for the Los Angeles Kings known for his elite skating ability, who is adjusting to the pace and defensive awareness of the NHL game.

Mason Marchment

A forward for the Columbus Blue Jackets who has been on a tear since being acquired in a trade, scoring 11 goals and 19 points in 20 games with his new team.

D.J. Smith

The interim head coach of the Los Angeles Kings, who has emphasized an up-tempo style of play focused on forechecking and physicality.

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What they’re saying

“There's another guy that can really skate and I'm going to push him to forecheck, be physical on the forecheck, hitting guys and getting to the net. I think that can help him take his game to the next level, is getting some ugly goals and making it hard on the defense.”

— D.J. Smith, Interim Head Coach, Los Angeles Kings (lakingsinsider.com)

“I thought the pace was good, but in the NHL, their sticks are so good, it's amazing. Sometimes, you think you've got a step, but they're just so good with their sticks, they can really shut you down. That's probably the biggest thing I took away from it, just how good, positionally, defensemen are in the NHL and how good they are with their sticks.”

— Jared Wright, Forward, Los Angeles Kings (lakingsinsider.com)

What’s next

The Kings will look to build on their strong performance against Montreal when they take on the Blue Jackets. A win would move them closer to a playoff spot, while a loss would leave them further behind in the tight Western Conference race. After this game, the Kings will continue their five-game road trip with a matchup against the Boston Bruins on Wednesday.

The takeaway

This game represents a crucial test for the Los Angeles Kings as they look to keep pace in the Western Conference playoff race. The Kings have played well under interim head coach D.J. Smith, but they need to start converting their strong performances into wins. The early afternoon start on the road also presents a unique challenge, as the Kings adjust to the time change and back-to-back games. The Kings' young talent, led by Quinton Byfield and Jared Wright, will need to step up and make an impact if the team wants to come away with a much-needed victory.