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.

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.

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.

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

Alex Turcotte scored twice and added an assist as the Los Angeles Kings thumped the struggling Vancouver Canucks 5-1. Adrian Kempe and Kevin Fiala each had a goal and an assist. Warren Foegele also scored for the Kings.

NHL insider Farhan Lalji appeared on TSN's OverDrive to discuss the Vancouver Canucks. He highlighted Quinn Hughes as the team’s most dependable player this season.

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.

They were singing in falsetto on Thursday in Vancouver, where Alex Turcotte’s two goals and his no-look assist to Adrian Kempe in the opening 9:42 of the match staked the Kings and lights-out goaltender Darcy Kuemper to a three-score advantage en route to a 5-1 win.

The Vancouver Canucks take on the L.A. Kings on Thursday night.