Much like a cool and conniving poker player that is holding aces, the Los Angeles Kings have developed a well-deserved reputation for doing just enough to gain entry into the Stanley Cup playoffs before going “all in” when it counts most. The defending Stanley Cup champions have two cups and a final four berth in the past three seasons despite not being among the top teams in the regular season standings.
This year, however, with the emergence of Calgary and Vancouver in the Pacific Division along with the Nashville and Winnipeg in the Western Conference, the Kings may have to put all of their chips at the center of the table sooner, rather than later.
More of the Same
It was another sluggish start for the Kings who were coming off a 5-5 stretch to stand at 14-9-2-3 and in fifth place in the Pacific Division, three points behind the Calgary Flames for the final automatic playoff spot in the Pacific. One disappointment has been 2014 playoff star RW Marion Gaborik, who has been frequently out of the lineup with upper body issues. It is a similar look to the past three seasons with the Kings who again have a sluggish offense and one of the top defenses in the league. But that defense may be a house of cards.
The Thin Blue Line
With the suspension of D Slava Voynov, who is out indefinitely to a domestic abuse issue, the Kings defensive corps is missing the depth required to survive the grind of the 82 game regular season. Aging Matt Greene and Robyn Regehr are both solid stay at home relics that are valued but lacking the skill of Voynov while superstar and Norris Trophy candidate Drew Doughty has been averaging almost 29 minutes per night which is unsustainable in the long haul if you want quality play and a ready-made point man for the playoffs. As great as Doughty is the TOI number is a stinging indictment about the Kings thin blue line and a key potential pitfall come playoff time.
Trade a Pocket Rocket?
The Kings have an embarrassment of riches at the goaltender position. Number one netminder Jonathan Quick had a save percentage of .931 with a 2.09 goals against average while backup Martin Jones was even better with a .947 save percentage and a 1.42 GAA. The superior play of Jones may open up the possibility of a trade to bolster the back end come playoff time.
