If you’ve been watching the standings lately, you know things are getting weird in the Pacific Division. The Los Angeles Kings are currently in the thick of a chaotic race, hovering around that fourth and fifth spot in the division. It’s tight. Honestly, every time Darcy Kuemper makes a save or Adrian Kempe flies down the wing, the math changes.
People keep asking about the la kings playoff schedule, but here’s the thing: you can't book your flights for a Round 1 home game at Crypto.com Arena just yet. We’re in that mid-January grind where the schedule is basically a list of "must-win" games that determine whether the Kings end up as a comfortable third seed or a desperate Wild Card.
Where the Kings Stand Right Now
As of mid-January 2026, the Kings are sitting with a record of 19-16-12. That’s 50 points in 47 games. It’s okay, but it’s not dominant. They’re looking up at the Vegas Golden Knights and Edmonton Oilers, and they’re wrestling with the Seattle Kraken and San Jose Sharks for positioning.
The defense has been surprisingly solid—ranking 4th in the league for goals against—but the offense is lagging near the bottom. They need more from guys like Kevin Fiala and Quinton Byfield if they want to avoid a brutal first-round matchup against a titan like the Colorado Avalanche.
Key Dates for the Postseason Push
The NHL regular season wraps up on April 16, 2026. For the Kings, that final stretch is a gauntlet of road games. They finish the year with three straight away from home:
- April 13 at Seattle
- April 14 at Vancouver
- April 16 at Calgary
If the Kings secure a spot, the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are slated to begin around Saturday, April 18. That’s the "circle it in red" date.
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Predicting the la kings playoff schedule
Since the bracket isn't set, we have to look at the likely scenarios. Most analysts, including the folks over at PlayoffStatus, have the Kings with roughly a 50/50 shot at making it, with their most likely seed being a Wild Card or the 3rd spot in the Pacific.
If they land the 3rd seed in the Pacific:
They would likely face the Edmonton Oilers or Vegas Golden Knights. You’ve seen this movie before. It’s high-intensity, it’s physical, and it usually starts on the road in Alberta or Nevada.
If they land a Wild Card spot:
This is where it gets scary. A Wild Card 2 spot would likely mean a trip to Denver to face the Colorado Avalanche. Colorado has been a juggernaut this season, and that’s a tough hill to climb for a team that sometimes struggles to put the puck in the net.
The Olympic Factor
Don’t forget about February. The NHL is taking a break from February 6 to February 22 for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. This is a huge variable for the la kings playoff schedule because stars like Drew Doughty and Darcy Kuemper will be heading to Milan to play for Team Canada.
How they come back from that break will decide the season. Do they come back inspired and ready to roll, or are they exhausted? Last time there was a mid-season international break, some teams completely lost their rhythm.
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What to Expect in Round 1
If the Kings make it, games will likely follow the standard 2-2-1-1-1 format.
- Games 1 & 2: Away (if they are the lower seed)
- Games 3 & 4: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles
- Game 5: Away (if necessary)
- Game 6: Los Angeles (if necessary)
- Game 7: Away (if necessary)
Tickets for these games usually go on sale to the general public just days after the clinching goal is scored. If you're a season ticket member, you’re already locked in, but for everyone else, expect prices to start north of $150 for the nosebleeds.
The Logistical Nightmare
There’s an interesting wrinkle this year. Los Angeles is a host city for the World Cup in the summer of 2026. If the Kings go on a deep run into June, there could be some serious hotel and transport congestion in the city. The Stanley Cup Final is tentatively scheduled for June, with Game 7 potentially falling on June 21—the same time soccer fans will be swarming the city. It’s going to be busy.
Actionable Steps for Kings Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve, here is what you actually need to do:
Monitor the January Road Trip
The Kings are currently on a heavy travel schedule. Keep a close eye on the games against the Rangers (Jan 20) and the Red Wings (Jan 27). These "out of conference" games are points they cannot afford to leave on the table.
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Check the Wild Card Standings Daily
The Pacific Division is too tight to just look at the top three. Bookmark the NHL's official standings page and look at the "Points Percentage" column. Because the Kings have played more games than some rivals, their total points can be deceiving.
Prepare for the "Home Stand" in April
The Kings have a massive seven-game homestand from late March into early April. If you want to see playoff-intensity hockey without playoff prices, games against St. Louis (April 1) and Nashville (April 2/6) will basically be playoff games in all but name.
Join the Insider Lists
Sign up for the LA Kings "e-News" on their official site. They always send out "Presale" codes for playoff tickets to their email list before they hit the general public. In a town like LA, those seats vanish in minutes.
The road to the 2026 playoffs is narrow, but the Kings have the goaltending to make a mess of anyone's bracket. It’s all about surviving the Olympic break and finding a way to score more than two goals a night.