Kings of the Extra Frame: How LA’s Refusal to Quit is Fueling a Historic Playoff Push
The Los Angeles Kings are writing a script that no one could have predicted at the start of the 2025-2026 NHL season. In a campaign defined by sheer resilience, heart-stopping finishes, and a refusal to go quietly into the night, the Kings have not only clawed their way back into the Western Conference playoff picture but have done so by setting an NHL record that perfectly encapsulates their season: 32 overtime or shootout appearances. Yes, you read that correctly. A staggering 41 percent of the Kings’ games this year have required more than 60 minutes to decide a winner.
As the regular season winds down to its final four games, the Kings sit at 33-26-19, good for 85 points and a tenuous grasp on the second wild card spot in the West. With interim head coach D.J. Smith at the helm, the team is riding a 4-0-1 hot streak in their last five games. They are playing desperate, playoff-style hockey in April, knowing that every single point is critical in a tight race against the Nashville Predators, San Jose Sharks, and Winnipeg Jets. This isn’t just a push for the postseason; it’s a battle for the soul of a team led by a legendary captain who refuses to let his final chapters be written in mediocrity.
Anze Kopitar: A Captain’s Unyielding Will
At the center of this incredible late-season surge is none other than Anze Kopitar. The 38-year-old captain, who recently etched his name into the history books by surpassing Marcel Dionne as the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 1,308 points, is playing with the urgency of a man who knows the clock is ticking. When asked recently about the possibility that these final regular-season games could be the last of his illustrious career, Kopitar’s response was characteristically blunt and determined: “I don’t plan on just playing seven more games.”
That determination is evident in every shift he takes. Nominated by the Los Angeles chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association for the Bill Masterton Trophy—awarded to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey—Kopitar is the beating heart of this Kings roster. Coach D.J. Smith summed it up perfectly: “I think he’s just willing himself right now. I think when this is all said and done, he’ll probably take a good six weeks and be exhausted, but he’s pushing himself down the stretch.”
Kopitar’s leadership is infectious. The team sees their captain leaving everything on the ice, and it has clearly galvanized the locker room. The message is clear: if the captain is willing to empty the tank, the rest of the roster must follow suit.
The Overtime Kings: A Historic Refusal to Lose in Regulation
The defining characteristic of the 2025-2026 Los Angeles Kings is their uncanny ability to drag games into overtime. With 19 overtime losses and 13 overtime or shootout wins, the Kings have played 32 games past regulation, setting a new NHL record. While some critics point to their low number of regulation wins (just 19, the second-fewest in the league ahead of only Vancouver), others see a team that is incredibly difficult to put away.
This resilience was on full display during their recent three-game homestand, which yielded five out of a possible six points. On April 4, the Kings engaged in a wild, 13-goal shootout against the high-flying Toronto Maple Leafs. Trailing late, they pushed the game to overtime, where young star Quinton Byfield buried the game-winner, capping off a two-goal performance and sealing a 7-6 victory. It was the team’s 31st overtime game, officially setting the NHL record.
Two nights later, against the Nashville Predators—the very team chasing them for the wild card spot—the Kings again found themselves in a tight, low-scoring affair. Goaltender Anton Forsberg was spectacular, making 29 saves in regulation and overtime before stopping all three Nashville shooters in the shootout. Goals from Joel Armia and Scott Laughton secured a massive 3-2 victory, allowing the Kings to leapfrog the Predators in the standings.
Then, on April 9, the Kings finally decided to take care of business in 60 minutes. Facing the division-rival Vancouver Canucks, Los Angeles put together a comprehensive 4-1 victory. Adrian Kempe was the star of the show, netting two goals to bring his season total to a team-leading 34. The performance also pushed Kempe past the 70-point mark for the third consecutive season, cementing his status as one of the premier offensive threats in the Western Conference.
The Panarin Effect and the Rise of the Youth
While the veterans like Kopitar and Kempe are carrying the mail, the Kings’ playoff push has been significantly bolstered by both key acquisitions and emerging youth. The trade deadline addition of Artemi Panarin has proven to be a masterstroke by general manager Ken Holland. Panarin has seamlessly integrated into the Kings’ top six, providing a lethal playmaking element that the team desperately needed. He recorded three points in the chaotic win over Toronto and added two more assists in the victory over Vancouver. His vision and ability to distribute the puck have unlocked new dimensions in the Kings’ offense.
Equally important has been the emergence of younger players stepping up in crucial moments. Quinton Byfield continues to blossom into the dominant power forward the Kings envisioned when they drafted him second overall. His overtime winner against Toronto was a signature moment in a season full of them.
Furthermore, players like Jared Wright are making their mark. The 2022 sixth-round pick has used his blazing speed to disrupt opposing defenses and generate offense. Wright recently put together a three-game point streak, including a crucial assist on Scott Laughton’s goal against Nashville. “I think I’m holding on to pucks a little bit longer,” Wright noted. “Just learning to hold on to pucks more wears D-corps down, and I think I’ve made the right steps.”
The Final Stretch: Four Games to Destiny
As the Kings prepare for the final four games of the regular season, the math is simple but the path is arduous. They currently hold a one-point lead over Nashville and a four-point cushion over San Jose. Because of their low number of regulation wins, the Kings will likely lose any tiebreaker scenarios, meaning they must beat their opponents outright in the standings.
The stretch run begins with a massive home game against the Edmonton Oilers on April 11. Crypto.com Arena will undoubtedly be rocking as the Kings look to secure two vital points against a Pacific Division heavyweight. Following that, the team heads out on a grueling three-game road trip through the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, facing the Seattle Kraken on April 13, the Vancouver Canucks on April 14, and finishing the season against the Calgary Flames on April 16.
Every game is a Game 7. Every shift matters. The Kings have proven they can play tight, structured hockey under D.J. Smith, and they have shown a penchant for late-game heroics that borders on the theatrical. But as Coach Smith pointed out after the Nashville game, “It’s going to come down to someone is going to have to make a big play at the right time, and right now we’re finding that way. But there’s a lot of track left here.”
A Season to Remember
Regardless of how these final four games play out, the 2025-2026 Los Angeles Kings have provided their fans with a season to remember. They are a team that defies conventional logic—a squad that struggles to win in regulation but simply refuses to lose when the game is on the line. They are a mix of legendary veterans fighting for one last shot at glory, prime-age stars carrying the offensive load, and young players cutting their teeth in the pressure cooker of a playoff race.
If Anze Kopitar has his way, this season won’t end on April 16 in Calgary. The captain is willing his team forward, and the rest of the roster is pulling in the same direction. The overtime Kings are ready for the ultimate extra frame: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Buckle up, Los Angeles. The real fun is just beginning.
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