Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. Los Angeles Kings’ Alex Turcotte (15) scores against Vancouver Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko, bottom ...

Alex Turcotte scored twice and added an assist as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 5-1.

The surging Canucks have now passed the Calgary Flames by total points to claim the final wild-card spot in the Western Conference. On the back of this small win streak, the Canucks are back in the thick of the playoff race with the fading Los Angeles Kings in their sights for third spot in the Pacific Division.

The Los Angeles Kings head into the fourth of a five-game road trip against the Vancouver Canucks. This is the second of three meetings between these two clubs this season. The Canucks picked up a 4-2 victory in Los Angeles on November 7th,

Turcotte put the Kings ahead 1-0 on the first shot of the game 51 seconds into the first period, beating defenseman Filip Hronek to the net on a 2-on-1 to redirect Kempe’s centering pass over the right pad of a sliding Demko.

Canucks captain Quinn Hughes had a sobering take on the struggles of his teammates after their 5-1 loss to the Kings.

The Canucks are now one point ahead of the Calgary Flames for the last Wild Card spot, although the Flames do have a game in hand. They also trail the Los Angeles Kings by only two points for the third Pacific Division playoff spot, but the Kings have two games in hand.

The Los Angeles Kings continue their western Canadian road trip as they roll into Rain City to take on their Pacific Division foe, the Vancouver Canucks.  Puck drop is slated for 10 pm ET

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VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- - Alex Turcotte scored twice and added an assist - all in the first 10 minutes - as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday night.

The Red Wings practiced at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center on Wednesday morning before departing for Edmonton. Patrick Kane (upper body) and Vladimir Tarasenko (illness) both participated, but J.T. Compher (upper body) and Jeff Petry (undisclosed) did not.

In a season that began with the death of star left winger Johnny Gaudreau six weeks before opening night, the Columbus Blue Jackets are getting closer to ending a four-year playoff drought.