Hockey is a brutal business. Honestly, if you were looking for the Los Angeles Kings game today, January 18, 2026, you likely found a scoreboard that makes for some pretty grim reading. There wasn't a game scheduled for Sunday—the team is currently catching their breath—but the fallout from Saturday night’s 2-1 overtime heartbreaker against the Anaheim Ducks is everywhere.
The Kings didn't just lose a game; they got swept in a back-to-back "Freeway Faceoff" weekend. That hurts. It hurts the standings, and it definitely hurts the pride of a locker room that’s currently missing its heartbeat.
What happened last night in Anaheim?
Basically, it was a goaltending duel that turned into a nightmare for Kevin Fiala. The Kings were locked in a 1-1 tie deep into overtime at the Honda Center. Fiala had a breakaway—the kind of moment you dream about to snap a losing skid. But Beckett Sennecke, the Ducks’ rookie who has been a thorn in LA’s side all weekend, hustled back with a monstrous backcheck.
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Sennecke stripped the puck and sent it straight to Mikael Granlund. One shot later, it was over.
Anton Forsberg was actually incredible in net. He stopped 30 shots and gave the Kings every chance to win while Darcy Kuemper took a night off. But the offense? It’s just not there right now. Adrian Kempe managed a power-play goal in the second period, shushing the Anaheim crowd with a finger to his lips, but that was the only time the Kings found the back of the net.
The Anze Kopitar-sized hole in the lineup
You can't talk about the Los Angeles Kings game today or their recent slump without mentioning the captain. Anze Kopitar is on Injured Reserve with an upper-body injury. It’s weird seeing a Kings lineup without #11 centering the top line. Trevor Moore is out too.
When you lose your top center and your most reliable winger at the same time, things get messy. Jim Hiller has been forced to blend the lines like a mad scientist.
- Quinton Byfield is being asked to carry a massive load at center.
- Corey Perry is back in the mix, providing some veteran grit, but he’s 40 years old.
- Alex Laferriere and Brandt Clarke are flashing talent, but they shouldn't be the ones having to rescue the season every single night.
The Kings have now lost six of their last seven games. Even more frustrating? They’ve played into extra time 20 times this season. That is a league high. They are the kings of the "loser point," but those overtime losses are starting to feel like actual anchors dragging them down the Pacific Division standings.
Looking ahead: No game today, but the Rangers are coming
Since there is no Los Angeles Kings game today, the focus shifts immediately to Tuesday, January 20th. The New York Rangers are coming to Crypto.com Arena.
If the Kings play like they did this weekend—struggling to finish on the power play and giving up odd-man rushes in OT—the Rangers will eat them alive. The Kings are currently sitting at 19-16-13. That's 51 points. They are right on the bubble of the Wild Card race, and the breathing room is gone.
The reality is that this team is exhausted. They’ve played a grueling schedule through the first half of January, and the injuries to Kopitar and Moore have exposed a lack of scoring depth that most fans suspected was there.
Actionable insights for Kings fans
If you're following the team's trajectory this week, keep an eye on these three things:
- The Kopitar Timeline: Check the morning skate reports on Monday. If Kopitar isn't skating, the Kings are in serious trouble for the Rangers game.
- Power Play Adjustments: LA had six power plays against Anaheim on Saturday and only converted once. They need to simplify. Look for Brandt Clarke to take more risks from the point to create chaos.
- The Standings Watch: Keep an eye on the Vegas Golden Knights and Seattle Kraken. The Pacific Division is a meat grinder right now, and every night the Kings aren't playing, someone else is likely jumping them in the standings.
Take a day off from the stress. There’s no puck drop today, so maybe go for a hike or finally clean out the garage. The Kings return to the ice Tuesday night at 7:30 PM local time.