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 Vancouver Canucks begin a homestand on Thursday night when the Los Angeles Kings roll into Rogers Arena for a Pacific Division matchup between the two West Coast teams. Following a five-game road trip,

This game started with an unfortunate pass from JT Miller up the wall to Filip Hronek in the LA end that allowed Adrian Kempe and Alex Turcotte to move in on a 2-on-1 that ended with Turcotte getting a chance off that Thatcher Demko had no chance of stopping.

This season the Kings have surrendered the fewest goals in the NHL, led by Darcy Kuemper in goal, but are coming off a shutout loss in Edmonton.

J.T. Miller, a key player for the Vancouver Canucks, signed a seven-year contract worth $56 million in 2022. Last season, he set a career-high with 103 points. Miller has eight goals and 21 assists in 33 games this season, but his -4 rating reflects the team’s struggles.