Alex Turcotte scored twice and notched an assist as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday.

The NHL Department of Player Safety laid down the gavel on Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe on Tuesday. Kempe slew-footed Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid in the third period of the Oilers' 1-0 victory on Monday.

BOTTOM LINE: The Vancouver Canucks face the Los Angeles Kings in a matchup of Pacific Division opponents. Vancouver is 19-14-10 overall with a 6-3-2 record in Pacific Division play. The Canucks have committed 168 total penalties (3.9 per game) to rank ninth in NHL play.

Alex Turcotte scored twice and notched an assist as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling host Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday. Turcotte’s first tally of the night came 51 seconds into the game and, before the end of the first period, the 23-year-old winger helped the Kings to a 3-0 lead.

The way the Canucks played Thursday, completely unengaged and unfocussed at the start, demonstrated how hollowed out they’ve become. They’re impossible to recognize as last year’s team.

"Los Angeles' Adrian Kempe has been fined $5,000 ... The Kings are set to play the Vancouver Canucks next on Thursday, followed by the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, and the Pittsburgh Penguins ...

Alex Turcotte scored twice and added an assist - all in the first 10 minutes - as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 5-1 on Thursday night.

J.T. Miller finished with the lowest 5-on-5 ice time for the Vancouver Canucks in their 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings.

Vancouver Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet explained why J.T. Miller played fewer than 15 minutes in a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on home ice Thursday night."Yeah, he's struggling," Tocchet told reporters postgame.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken will play the Los Angeles Kings at home Saturday evening. The game at Climate Pledge Arena begins at 7 p.m. PT.

Los Angeles Kings left wing Alex Turcotte led the way with three points during their victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday evening. Turcotte opened the scoring with a tip-in goal in the opening minute.