Los Angeles Kings' Artemi Panarin (10) scores on Vancouver Canucks goaltender Kevin Lankinen (32) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Vancouver, on Thursday, March 26, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns

By The Canadian Press

Kuemper posts 19-save shutout, Los Angeles Kings blank Vancouver Canucks 4-0

Mar 26, 2026 | 10:35 PM

VANCOUVER — Darcy Kuemper stopped all 19 shots he faced and the Los Angeles Kings blanked the Vancouver Canucks 4-0 on Thursday.

It was the veteran goalie’s third shutout of the season and the 39th of his NHL career. His last came on Dec. 6 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

One of Kuemper’s best stops of the night came at the 10:43 mark of the first period when Vancouver centre Teddy Blueger launched a blast from the slot and the goalie kicked out his right leg to send the puck soaring with the toe of his skate.

Trevor Moore had a goal and an assist for the Kings (29-25-18), while Scott Laughton and Artemi Panarin also scored. Mikey Anderson recorded a pair of helpers.

Quinton Byfield sealed the score with an empty-net strike — his 18th goal of the season — with two minutes and 24 seconds left in the third period.

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Kevin Lankinen made 34 saves for the Canucks (21-42-8), who lost a fourth straight game.

The victory moved L.A. within a single point of the Nashville Predators, who currently hold the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

Takeaways

Canucks: Were heartily outplayed through much of the game, with the visitors outshooting them 32-12 over the first two periods. Made a push midway through the third but couldn’t get a shot past Keumper. … Pulled Lankinen with just over five minutes left on the game clock in favour of an extra attacker, only to see Byfield score. … Wrapped an eight-game homestand with a 2-6-0 record.

Kings: Laughton collected his second point in nine games. … L.A. was solid on special teams, going 1-for-2 with the man advantage and killing off two penalties. … Dominated faceoffs, winning 75.6 per cent of the battles in the circle, and outhit the home side 22-12.

Key moment

The Kings opened the scoring with a power-play tally 17:34 into the first period. Stationed at the top of the faceoff circle, Byfield unleashed a blast that hit the skate of Laughton as he jumped in front of the net, deflecting the puck in past Lankinen for his 11th goal of the season.

Key stat

The Canucks have been shutout five times this season, with four of the five losses coming on home ice.

Up next

Canucks: Visit the Flames in Calgary on Saturday.

Kings: Host the Utah Mammoth on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 26, 2026.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press