4/13/2026
SEATTLE, WASH
The Seattle Kraken in their home finale of the 2025-26 season fall 5-3 to the Los Angeles Kings. With the win, the Kings clinch a spot in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Los Angeles’ goals came from a pair from Quinton Byfield, Trevor Moore, Adrian Kempe, and Alex Laferriere with Anton Forsberg saving 28 of 31 Seattle shots earning the win. Adam Larsson, Federick Gaudreau, and Bobby McMann scored for the Kraken with Nikke Kokko making 25 saves on 29 Kings’ shots.
Los Angeles drew first blood when Quinton Byfield scored an unassisted goal at 2:43 when he deked around Nikko Kokko on a breakaway to put the Kings up 1-0. Jacob Melanson since his call up from the Coachella Valley Firebirds’ staple was his physicality. After a matching roughing minor penalty with the Kings’ Samuel Helenius, the two at 12:03 squared off for a furious tilt to bring the fans and benches to their feet. Byfield was back to his scoring ways at 13:19 when he roofed his second goal of the game to put the Kings up 2-0. Los Angeles outshot Seattle 9-8 in the opening period.
In the second period, the Kings’ Trevor Moore went top shelf after a lively bounce off the back wall from an Alex Laferriere shot at 7:13. Although there were an array of chances in the middle frame at either end, Seattle outshot Los Angeles 13-12, but the Kings led on the scoreboard 3-0.
Seattle broke Anton Forsberg’s clean sheet when Adam Larsson scored at 1:53 to make the deficit 3-1. The Kraken were not done. Kappo Kakko set up Frederick Gaudreau who buried his seventh goal of the year to put the Kraken within one at 8:08.
Los Angeles with hopes of clinching a playoff spot got insurance when Anze Kopitar playing in his final game in Seattle fed Adrian Kempe on a 2 on 1, Kempe’s shot sneaked by Kokko at 12:29 to restore a two goal lead. The Kings were seven and a half minutes away from a playoff berth. The Kraken continued to battle as Bobby McMann found the back of the net at 17:33 to put the Kraken within striking range. Seattle pushed for an equalizer, but Alex Laferriere scored an empty net goal with two seconds left to seal a playoff berth for the Los Angeles Kings.
After the game, the Kraken formed a handshake line for the Kings’ Anze Kopitar, who announced he is retiring at the end of the season.
Jacob Melanson when reflecting on Seattle’s fanbase said, “the fans have supported me and my journey up here the whole time. So I can’t thank them enough, and they show it every night, whether we’re winning or losing, they deserve better and deserve to see us play in the playoffs.” Melanson’s sentiment is a sign for what the Kraken look to do as they begin closing the book on the 2025-26 season and look towards 2027.
The Kraken conclude the regular season with a back to back on the road against the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday and the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday.
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