The LA Kings skated to a 3-2 shootout victory over the Nashville Predators on Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena, moving into sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

After an aggressive, forechecking start, Kings forward Joel Armia opened the scoring just shy of six minutes into the game. Armia forced a turnover in the neutral zone and went the other way with possession, delaying slightly to avoid offsides. Armia then circled the net and after his centering feed was pokechecked away by Nashville goaltender Juuse Saros, the puck came right back to Armia and he buried the game’s first goal from close range.

Skating on a two-man advantage early in the second period, Nashville tied the game at one with a 5-on-3 goal. After establishing possession in the offensive zone, the Predators worked the puck to forward Steven Stamkos in the left-hand circle, where he one-timed a shot past Kings goaltender Anton Forsberg and in for his second goal in as many games against the Kings, his 39th of the season, and a tie game.

Just shy of the final media timeout in the second period, the third line scored another goal, putting the Kings back on top through 40 minutes of play. Forward Jared Wright showcased his blazing speed down the right wing, working his way into the offensive zone with possession. Before he went behind the net, Wright dropped the puck into the low slot, to forward Scott Laughton, for the go-ahead goal that put the Kings ahead 2-1.

Inside the first five minutes of the third period, Nashville tied the game at two with a goal from captain Roman Josi. A heavy shot by forward Filip Forsberg missed the net, but the puck took a hard bounce off the endboards, kicking directly to Josi in the left-hand circle. The Swiss blueliner shot the puck first time, off Forsberg’s glove and in for his 13th goal of the season and a 2-2 score.

After an overtime that came and went without a goal, the game progressed into a shootout, the third time this season these two teams have played in a shootout. Forward Adrian Kempe scored the only goal, with Forsberg making all three saves to earn the two points and move the Kings into sole possession of the second wild card spot in the Western Conference.

Hear from Forsberg, Wright and Interim D.J. Smith after tonight’s victory.

Jared Wright

Anton Forsberg
On playing in a pressure-packed shootout at this time of the year
I mean, it’s not really any different. I kind of like shootouts, it’s 1-on-1. Obviously, it sucks when you lose on that, like, it’s not the game obviously, but I feel confident going in there and it turned out the right way tonight.

On a huge opportunity tonight to get the start in such a big game
Just to get the chance to play in this kind of game, it’s so much fun. had fun every minute out there. It was an important game tonight, but the next one is important too, the last one was too. So, it doesn’t really matter, we’ve just got to stick with it, play our game and move on. We’ve got a game in two or three days and we’ve got to get right back at it.

On where he feels his game is at tomorrow
I feel good. I mean, even if I’m playing a lot, I’ve been working a lot with [Mike Buckley], he’s doing a really good job of keeping me sharp coming up with really good drills, game like situations. Obviously, for this time of the season, it’s not a lot of practice, it’s mostly days off and games, but he’s been really good at finding those things to work on and just coming up with those game-like situations.

On how he feels at this time of the year
Yeah, I mean, obviously both me and Darce want to play as much as possible, right? We’re there to support each other. That’s a part of a team and when the other one plays, the other guy works hard, works on this game, and we take it day-by-day.

D.J. Smith
On if tonight’s performance gives Anton Forsberg the net down the stretch
I think we’re going to need both of them down the stretch. I think the display by Forsy tonight, obviously, is exactly what we needed, but let’s not forget that Kuemps is a big part of this team too and we’re going to need them. I think you’re going to need both goalies. For the amount of work Forsy has done his career, he hasn’t played in those five games in 10 days, that’s a lot for a goalie, and we’re going to need Kuemps as well.

On the start tonight being more of what he was looking for
I thought Q’s line was great, right from the get go. In the first period, they went in, they got some cycle shifts, I think it was their first shift, they hemmed them in and they just set the tone for us. Laughton’s line, obviously, was outstanding tonight and then they kind of did that to us in the second period. Obviously the teams are as close as they can get. I mean, that’s our third overtime game with these guys and just right now we’re finding ways to win them.

On Jared Wright’s play tonight
He just skates and he’s making plays off the rush. I mean, his speed is intimidating. As some guys are physical off the forecheck, which he’ll do, but his speed, he looks like he’s about to get a breakaway at all times. He can track pucks down and he’s found ways to make some big plays for us.

On finding a playoff intensity in tonight’s game
Leadership. Kopi, Dewey, Kemps, Mikey, Eddy, the guys that have been around, they’re playing for each other. They like each other. They hang out off the ice together and they’re coming together at the right time. Now, let’s see what we can do. We’ve got some big games coming up but that was a big one for us tonight and we’re finding ways to win.

On if he believes his team has the resolve to get in over these final five games
For sure we do. I think right now, the guys are pushing for each other, the shot blocks, the defense, the way they played in front of our net. We’re giving everything we got and it won’t be for lack of effort. It’s going to come down to someone’s 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.

Notes –
– Forward Joel Armia (1-0=1) scored his 12th goal of the season, opening the scoring tonight with an unassisted marker. In doing so, Armia extended his goal streak against the Nashville Predators to a third game (3-2=5), dating back to Oct. 25, 2025. The 32-year-old winger is the fifth skater in Kings history to record a three-game goal streak against Nashville, and is the first to do so within a single season.
– Forward Scott Laughton (1-0=1) scored his 13th goal of the year, his fifth tally since joining the Kings. Laughton has goals in consecutive games (2-0=2) against the Predators, following his strike this past Thursday, April 2. Per NHL PR, Laughton’s five goals since being acquired by the Kings on March 6 are tied for the second-most among all players acquired on NHL Trade Deadline day. The only player with more is Seattle’s Bobby McMann (8 G).
– Forward Jared Wright (0-1=1) picked up his fourth career assist, his third consecutive game with a helper (0-3=3), dating back to last Thursday’s game against the Predators on April 2.
– Captain Anze Kopitar skated in his 1,516th career regular-season NHL contest this evening, tying Matt Cullen (1,516 GP) for the 23rd-most games played in League history.
– Forward Adrian Kempe scored his fifth career shootout game-deciding goal to secure the Kings’ 3-2 victory tonight. Per NHL PR, Kempe’s 22nd career shootout goal ties Alexander Steen (22) and Gustav Nyquist (22) for the third-most shootout goals by a Swedish player. The only others with more are Mika Zibanejad (31) and Nicklas Backstrom (29).
– Goaltender Anton Forsberg turned aside 29 of Nashville’s 31 shots on goal through regulation and overtime before stopping all three of the Predators’ shootout attempts to earn his 13th victory of the season.

The Kings have a team day off tomorrow and will return to the ice for practice on Wednesday, April 8, at 11 AM at Toyota Sports Performance Center.