Late Magic in Vancouver: DeBrusk Nets Two as Canucks Edge Kings

In a thrilling regular-season finale at Rogers Arena, Jake DeBrusk scored his second goal of the night just 2:58 into overtime to lead the Vancouver Canucks to a 4-3 victory over the Los Angeles Kings. DeBrusk, who has been the subject of persistent trade rumors despite his productive season, tapped in a perfect feed from center Elias Pettersson to seal Vancouver's third consecutive win. While the Canucks (25-48-8) will not be participating in the postseason, DeBrusk’s performance served as a reminder of his game-breaking ability, as he finished the year with 23 goals—19 of which came on the power play.

The Los Angeles Kings, however, left the ice with their heads held high. Despite the overtime loss, the point earned allowed them to secure a playoff berth for the fifth consecutive season. The Kings (35-26-20, 90 points) currently sit in the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference with one game remaining. Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each recorded a goal and an assist, while veteran captain Anze Kopitar notched an assist in what was his final career game at Rogers Arena, further climbing the all-time assists leaderboard among active players.

Kuemper’s Rollercoaster Season and the Playoff Push

The story of the Kings’ season has largely centered on the play of goaltender Darcy Kuemper. After a Vezina-caliber performance in 2024-25, Kuemper has experienced a turbulent 2025-26 campaign, marked by inconsistencies and a mid-season injury. Against the Canucks, he made 21 saves but was unable to stop DeBrusk’s close-range effort in the extra frame. With the playoffs looming, the debate over whether Kuemper or Anton Forsberg should start Game 1 has intensified among the Kings’ faithful. Kuemper’s experience—including a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2026 Milan Olympics—may give him the edge, but his .904 save percentage on the season remains a concern.

Vancouver, meanwhile, enters a significant offseason of rebuilding. Elias Pettersson provided two assists in the win, showing why he remains the cornerstone of the franchise, and rookie defenseman Zeev Buium scored his sixth goal of the season to further emphasize the youth movement. However, the comments made by DeBrusk earlier in the month—stating his desire to avoid a long-term rebuild—suggest that major roster changes are on the horizon for General Manager Patrik Allvin’s squad.

A New Chapter for the Kings

As the Kings prepare for their first-round matchup, likely against the high-powered Edmonton Oilers or the division-winning Colorado Avalanche, head coach DJ Smith must shore up a defensive unit that has shown flashes of brilliance but occasional lapses in discipline. The return of Drew Doughty to peak form and the offensive emergence of Adrian Kempe (36 goals) provide reason for optimism. Los Angeles has proven they can compete with the West’s elite, but their success in the postseason will ultimately hinge on whether they can find the "reset button" in the crease and close out tight games that have plagued them in the final weeks of the regular season.