The 2009–10 Los Angeles Kings season was the team's 43rd season (42nd season of play) in the National Hockey League (NHL). For the first time since the 2001–02 NHL season, the Kings qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Preseason The Kings were busy at the 2009 NHL entry draft, making five trades. The Kings chose Brayden Schenn as their first-round pick, fifth overall. The Kings finished the pre-season with a record of 4–3–1. Defenseman Sean O'Donnell received a five-game suspension during the preseason after an incident involving New York Islanders forward Matt Martin. O'Donnell missed the final three pre-season games, and will miss the first two games of the regular season.

2009 Pre-season game log: 4–3–1 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 0–3–0; Neutral: 2–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 15 Phoenix Coyotes Won 4–3 Los Angeles Kings Jonathan Bernier (1–0–0) 8,432 1–0–0 2 September 15 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–2 Phoenix Coyotes Erik Ersberg (0–1–0) 4,643 1–1–0 3 September 17 (in Ontario, CA) San Jose Sharks Lost 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Jonathan Quick (0–0–1) 6,245 1–1–1 4 September 19 Anaheim Ducks Won 4–1 Los Angeles Kings Jonathan Bernier (2–0–0) 11,995 2–1–1 5 September 22 (in Kansas City, MO) Los Angeles Kings Won 4–2 New York Islanders Jonathan Quick (1–0–1) 9,792 3–1–1 6 September 23 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–2 Colorado Avalanche Erik Ersberg (0–2–0) 3–2–1 7 September 26 (in Las Vegas, NV) Colorado Avalanche Won 5–3 Los Angeles Kings Jonathan Quick (2–0–1) 11,263 4–2–1 8 September 27 Los Angeles Kings Lost 5–4 Anaheim Ducks Jonathan Bernier (2–1–0) 15,677 4–3–1

Luc Robitaille was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on November 9, 2009. Robitaille, who currently serves as the President of Business Operations for the Kings, was joined by Brian Leetch, Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Lou Lamoriello in this year's class of inductees.

Regular season The Kings observed a 17-day break in the schedule in February due to the 2010 Winter Olympics. Five players currently under contract for Los Angeles were selected to represent their countries during the tournament. Drew Doughty played for Canada, Michal Handzus played for Slovakia, while Dustin Brown, Jack Johnson and Jonathan Quick all represented the United States.

The main highlights for the club included them breaking an eight-year playoff absence by qualifying as the sixth seed in the Western Conference. They finished the season with 101 points, the third highest point total in franchise history. They also set a franchise record with a nine-game winning streak from January 21 through February 6. They registered two other eight game stretches without a loss. On the road, they established franchise records for road wins in a season (24), road points (51) and the first ever 5–0–0 record on a five-game trip in franchise history.

Individually, goaltender Jonathan Quick established single-season records for victories with 39 and games played with 72.

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

2009–10 game log October: 8–4–2 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 4–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 3 Phoenix Coyotes Lost 6–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (0–1–0) 18,118 0–1–0 0 2 October 6 San Jose Sharks Won 6–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (1–1–0) 15,053 1–1–0 2 3 October 8 Minnesota Wild Won 6–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (2–1–0) 14,995 2–1–0 4 4 October 10 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–1 St. Louis Blues Quick (3–1–0) 19,150 3–1–0 6 5 October 12 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–1 New York Islanders Quick (4–1–0) 12,145 4–1–0 8 6 October 14 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–2 New York Rangers Ersberg (0–1–0) 18,200 4–2–0 8 7 October 15 Los Angeles Kings Lost 5–2 Detroit Red Wings Quick (4–2–0) 17,782 4–3–0 8 8 October 17 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–1 Columbus Blue Jackets Quick (4–3–0) 15,251 4–4–0 8 9 October 19 Los Angeles Kings Won 4–1 Dallas Stars Quick (5–3–0) 16,210 5–4–0 10 10 October 22 Dallas Stars Won 5–4 Los Angeles Kings OT Quick (6–3–0) 15,025 6–4–0 12 11 October 24 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–3 Phoenix Coyotes Quick (7–3–0) 7,968 7–4–0 14 12 October 25 Columbus Blue Jackets Won 6–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (8–3–0) 15,820 8–4–0 16 13 October 28 Los Angeles Kings Lost 2–1 San Jose Sharks SO Quick (8–3–1) 17,562 8–4–1 17 14 October 29 Vancouver Canucks Lost 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (8–3–2) 16,838 8–4–2 18 November: 7–6–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 5–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 15 November 2 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–3 Phoenix Coyotes Quick (9–3–2) 5,855 9–4–2 20 16 November 5 Pittsburgh Penguins Won 5–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (10–3–2) 18,118 10–4–2 22 17 November 7 Nashville Predators Lost 3–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (10–4–2) 15,237 10–5–2 22 18 November 9 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–1 Chicago Blackhawks Quick (10–5–2) 20,293 10–6–2 22 19 November 11 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–2 Carolina Hurricanes Ersberg (1–1–0) 13,510 11–6–2 24 20 November 13 Los Angeles Kings Lost 7–0 Atlanta Thrashers Quick (10–6–2) 15,638 11–7–2 24 21 November 14 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–1 Tampa Bay Lightning SO Quick (11–6–2) 16,612 12–7–2 26 22 November 16 Los Angeles Kings Won 4–3 Florida Panthers SO Quick (12–6–2) 12,502 13–7–2 28 23 November 18 Philadelphia Flyers Lost 3–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (12–7–2) 17,821 13–8–2 28 24 November 21 Calgary Flames Lost 5–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (12–8–2) 16,336 13–9–2 28 25 November 25 Los Angeles Kings Won 3–1 Edmonton Oilers Quick (13–8–2) 16,839 14–9–2 30 26 November 26 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–1 Vancouver Canucks Quick (13–9–2) 18,810 14–10–2 30 27 November 28 Chicago Blackhawks Won 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (14–9–2) 18,118 15–10–2 32 December: 8–5–1 (Home: 4–1–1; Road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 28 December 1 Los Angeles Kings Won 4–3 Anaheim Ducks Quick (15–9–2) 14,231 16–10–2 34 29 December 3 Ottawa Senators Won 6–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (16–9–2) 14,997 17–10–2 36 30 December 5 St. Louis Blues Lost 5–4 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (16–9–3) 17,519 17–10–3 37 31 December 7 Calgary Flames Won 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (17–9–3) 13,853 18–10–3 39 32 December 9 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–4 San Jose Sharks OT Ersberg (2–1–0) 17,562 19–10–3 41 33 December 10 Phoenix Coyotes Won 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (18–9–3) 15,259 20–10–3 43 34 December 12 Dallas Stars Won 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (19–9–3) 18,118 21–10–3 45 35 December 14 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–1 Vancouver Canucks Quick (19–10–3) 18,810 21–11–3 45 36 December 15 Los Angeles Kings Won 3–2 Edmonton Oilers Quick (20–10–3) 16,839 22–11–3 47 37 December 17 Los Angeles Kings Lost 2–1 Calgary Flames Quick (20–11–3) 19,289 22–12–3 47 38 December 26 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes Quick (20–12–3) 16,131 22–13–3 47 39 December 28 Minnesota Wild Lost 4–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (20–13–3) 18,118 22–14–3 47 40 December 30 Los Angeles Kings Lost 2–1 Calgary Flames Ersberg (2–2–0) 19,289 22–15–3 47 41 December 31 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–2 Minnesota Wild Quick (21–13–3) 18,504 23–15–3 49 January: 10–4–0 (Home: 4–4–0; Road: 6–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 42 January 2 Washington Capitals Won 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (22–13–3) 18,118 24–15–3 51 43 January 4 Los Angeles Kings Won 6–2 San Jose Sharks Quick (23–13–3) 17,562 25–15–3 53 44 January 7 Detroit Red Wings Lost 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (23–14–3) 18,118 25–16–3 53 45 January 9 St. Louis Blues Lost 4–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (23–15–3) 18,118 25–17–3 53 46 January 11 San Jose Sharks Lost 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Ersberg (2–3–0) 17,821 25–18–3 53 47 January 14 Anaheim Ducks Won 4–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (24–15–3) 18,118 26–18–3 55 48 January 16 Boston Bruins Won 4–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (25–15–3) 18,118 27–18–3 57 49 January 19 San Jose Sharks Lost 5–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (25–16–3) 16,212 27–19–3 57 50 January 21 Buffalo Sabres Won 4–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (26–16–3) 16,884 28–19–3 59 51 January 23 Los Angeles Kings Won 3–2 Detroit Red Wings Quick (27–16–3) 20,066 29–19–3 61 52 January 26 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–3 Toronto Maple Leafs Quick (28–16–3) 19,322 30–19–3 63 53 January 28 Los Angeles Kings Won 4–1 Columbus Blue Jackets Quick (29–16–3) 13,709 31–19–3 65 54 January 30 Los Angeles Kings Won 3–2 Boston Bruins SO Quick (30–16–3) 17,565 32–19–3 67 55 January 31 Los Angeles Kings Won 3–2 New Jersey Devils Quick (31–16–3) 17,625 33–19–3 69 February: 4–1–1 (Home: 4–0–1; Road: 0–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 56 February 2 New York Rangers Won 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (32–16–3) 18,118 34–19–3 71 57 February 4 Anaheim Ducks Won 6–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (33–16–3) 18,118 35–19–3 73 58 February 6 Detroit Red Wings Won 4–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (34–16–3) 18,118 36–19–3 75 59 February 8 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–2 Anaheim Ducks Quick (34–17–3) 16,033 36–20–3 75 60 February 11 Edmonton Oilers Lost 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Ersberg (2–3–1) 18,118 36–20–4 76 61 February 13 Colorado Avalanche Won 3–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (35–17–3) 18,118 37–20–4 78 March: 6–7–2 (Home: 3–4–0; Road: 3–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 62 March 2 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–1 Dallas Stars Quick (36–17–3) 15,571 38–20–4 80 63 March 4 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–2 Nashville Predators Quick (36–18–3) 15,653 38–21–4 80 64 March 6 Montreal Canadiens Lost 4–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (36–19–3) 18,118 38–22–4 80 65 March 8 Columbus Blue Jackets Won 6–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (37–19–3) 17,524 39–22–4 82 66 March 10 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks OT Quick (37–19–4) 21,850 39–22–5 83 67 March 12 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–1 Dallas Stars SO Bernier (1–0–0) 16,651 40–22–5 85 68 March 14 Nashville Predators Lost 3–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (37–20–4) 18,118 40–23–5 85 69 March 18 Chicago Blackhawks Lost 3–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (37–21–4) 18,118 40–24–5 85 70 March 20 New York Islanders Won 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (38–21–4) 18,118 41–24–5 87 71 March 22 Colorado Avalanche Won 4–3 Los Angeles Kings OT Quick (39–21–4) 17,845 42–24–5 89 72 March 24 Los Angeles Kings Lost 4–3 Colorado Avalanche SO Ersberg (2–3–2) 13,667 42–24–6 90 73 March 25 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–1 St. Louis Blues Quick (39–22–4) 19,150 42–25–6 90 74 March 27 Dallas Stars Lost 4–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (39–23–4) 18,118 42–26–6 90 75 March 29 Los Angeles Kings Lost 3–2 Minnesota Wild Quick (39–24–4) 18,284 42–27–6 90 76 March 30 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–0 Nashville Predators Bernier (2–0–0) 14,433 43–27–6 92 April: 3–0–3 (Home: 1–0–3; Road: 2–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 77 April 1 Vancouver Canucks Won 8–3 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (3–0–0) 18,118 44–27–6 94 78 April 3 Anaheim Ducks Lost 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (39–24–5) 18,118 44–27–7 95 79 April 6 Los Angeles Kings Won 5–4 Anaheim Ducks SO Ersberg (3–3–2) 16,278 45–27–7 97 80 April 8 Phoenix Coyotes Lost 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (39–24–6) 18,118 45–27–8 98 81 April 10 Edmonton Oilers Lost 4–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (39–24–7) 18,118 45–27–9 99 82 April 11 Los Angeles Kings Won 2–1 Colorado Avalanche OT Ersberg (4–3–2) 15,674 46–27–9 101 Legend:

Playoffs

The Los Angeles Kings qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2002, clinching the sixth seed with 101 points.