The Los Angeles Kings have punched their ticket to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, clinching the second Western Conference Wild Card spot to close the regular season on Thursday. While they entered the final night with a chance to climb higher, a win by the rival Anaheim Ducks ultimately sealed their fate as the conference's final qualifier.

Finishing with a record of 35-27-20, the Kings edged out the St. Louis Blues by a narrow four-point margin. Their path to the postseason, however, was historic in an unconventional way. The team set an NHL record for the most overtime or shootout losses (20) by a playoff-bound squad, and their 35 wins are the fewest of any team in this year's tournament, highlighting a season defined by gritty, close contests.

This season was a poignant one for the franchise, marked by the final chapter of a legendary career. Captain Anze Kopitar, the cornerstone of the Kings' two Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014, announced his retirement at the season's outset. The 38-year-old center, a lifelong King drafted in 2005, bowed out with a respectable 38-point campaign, adding a final layer to his legacy as a two-time Selke Trophy winner and the heart of the team for over a decade.

Looking toward the future, the Kings made a major move in February to bolster their offense, acquiring elite winger Artemi Panarin in a blockbuster trade with the New York Rangers. Panarin immediately made his presence felt, leading the team with 84 total points and 28 goals between his two stops. His dynamic scoring ability is now the focal point of the Kings' attack and will be crucial for any success in the playoffs and beyond.

As they enter the postseason as underdogs, the Kings face a daunting first-round matchup. Their resilience in one-goal games got them here, and they'll need to channel that same tenacity to pull off an upset. While the statistics suggest a tough road ahead, the playoffs are a new season, and LA will look to defy expectations starting now.