Kings Round 1 Schedule, Updated w/ Game 1 on Monday, April 21 in Los Angeles

Some Round 1 updates, Insiders!

Here’s what we know.

The Kings will play the Oilers in Round 1. As has been confirmed now for a few days.

The Kings have home-ice advantage for the first time since 2016, secured with Monday’s win over the Oilers at Rogers Place. With that, naturally, comes Games 1 and 2 being played at home and as we know. Should make for a busy Crypto.com Arena this coming week, with the Lakers also home for Games 1 and 2.

The NBA released its Round 1 playoff schedule last night, which has the Lakers playing in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 19 and Tuesday, April 22. So, that puts some dates on the calendar for the Kings to work off of and leaves us with the following scenarios for Round 1 –

Game 1 – Monday, April 21, 7 PM Start
Game 2 – Wednesday, April 23, 7 PM Start
Game 5 – Tuesday, April 29, Start Time TBD
Game 7 – Saturday, May 3, Start Time TBD

Updating here to confirm all four home games. The Kings will play Game 1 on Monday, April 21 and Game 2 on Wednesday, April 23. If necessary, the Kings will host Game 5 on Tuesday, April 29 and Game 7 on Saturday, May 3. So, for your Game 2 planning purposes, lock in Wednesday, April 23 on the calendar. That is happening either way. Same goes for potential Games 5 and 7, which would obviously carry added importance. No information here on away dates at this time.

For those interested in attending the first round of the playoffs, clarity helps. Tickets are available for Games 1, 2, 5 and 7, with all four of those dates now confirmed!

Game 1 Tickets
Game 2 Tickets
Game 5 Tickets
Game 7 Tickets

More information available HERE.

As far as start times go, Games 1 and 2 are both scheduled to start at 7 PM Pacific. Games 5 and 7, start times TBD.

In the past, we’ve seen the Kings designated almost universally as the late game, meaning 7 PM start times in Los Angeles and 8 PM start times in Edmonton, though for the Kings’ home games in recent seasons, we have seen a couple of 7:30 puck drops in there as well as a 6 PM start on a Sunday. More to come there, but with typically this series has been designated as the late-game slot for TV purposes.

Before the update, the only unknown was when the series would actually start.

That date could be either Sunday, April 20 or Monday, April 21 and it will depend on a few different factors, one of which was the team that secures the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. With Montreal’s win earlier today over Carolina, the Canadiens clinched that spot, setting the field of 16.

All comes down to television stuff, for one reason or another. Regardless of whether it was Columbus or Montreal, that team will start on the road, but all eight series across the NHL carry some different elements that would dictate the overall schedule of games around the league. Ultimately, the playoff schedule is built around national television rights in both the United States and Canada and different teams carry different demand within that larger schedule.

As far as locking in Game 1, Montreal was the first domino to fall.

Now, the Montreal win did not lock in the Kings for either Sunday or Monday at this time. There were scenarios on both Sunday and Monday with a Montreal win, as opposed to Sunday only if Columbus had secured the final spot in the Eastern Conference. But that has since been finalized for Monday.

Yeah……that’s a lot. But that’s where we’re at with one game remaining in the regular-season schedule.

So there you have it.

The Kings and Oilers will get at it for Game 1 on Monday evening at Crypto.com Arena, the first Game 1 in Los Angeles since 2016. From there, we know what’s to come. Game 2 will be Wednesday night hockey and, if necessary, we know when Games 5 (4/29) and 7 (5/3) will be played as well.

Tis the season…..when scheduling becomes interesting. More to come as things continue to be released!