LA Kings Clinch at Climate Pledge Arena, and the Kraken's Season Just Ended

The Kraken had one job Monday night: make life miserable for the LA Kings. Instead, Seattle watched the Kings secure the last Stanley Cup Playoffs spot right there at Climate Pledge Arena, finishing it 5-3. The Philadelphia Flyers and Anaheim Ducks had already clinched earlier in the evening, which meant LA was chasing the final spot. Nashville lost in regulation. The Kings got their ticket punched at the Kraken's expense, and now Seattle's season is officially done.

Down Early, Fighting Back Too Little Too Late

The Kings came out flying and built a 3-0 lead before the Kraken could find any rhythm. Adam Larsson scored early in the third period to get Seattle on the board, and forward Freddy Gaudreau added another shortly after, which was enough to get the LA bench calling timeout. But it wasn't enough to flip the script. Bobby McMann scored his 10th goal in 16 games since arriving from Toronto at the trade deadline, sandwiched between two more Kings goals, sealing the 5-3 final.

The Kraken occupied that last playoff spot as recently as March 18. They've been falling out of contention for more than a week, but Saturday's loss formally ended their mathematical chances. Captain Jordan Eberle didn't mince words about the sting of missing the postseason. "Obviously, it's disappointing when you don't make the playoffs. For me, that's unacceptable. That's where we need to get to," he said.

Youth Movement in Full Effect as Season Winds Down

With the playoffs now officially out of reach, Seattle started rolling out top prospects in preparation for next season. Oscar Fisker Molgaard and Jacob Melanson, both Seattle draftees, lined up on the fourth line with Ryan Winterton and Berkly Catton. The goaltending was entirely Coachella Valley Firebirds, with Nikke Kokko making his second straight start (25 saves) and Victor Ostman backing up. The Kraken's usual goaltending tandem is injured, and third goalie Matt Murray is away from the team due to a family matter.

Melanson made the biggest impression on the ice, delivering a crunching hit on LA's Samuel Helenius into the boards during the first period. The two dropped the gloves immediately, and after another heated encounter later in the game, they finally got a chance to fight it out properly. Melanson took the worse of it, bloodying his helmet before heading to the locker room, though he returned to keep chirping at Helenius. The two had also fought back on December 1, 2023, when both were in the AHL, with the same result for Melanson. "Tried to get the guys going," Melanson said. "I wanted a fair square-off."

The Kraken finish the season Thursday in Colorado with several pending unrestricted free agents whose futures remain uncertain after Monday's loss.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.