In a game that almost perfectly mirrored the Kings season in a microcosm (actually it would have been more fitting had they lost in a shootout or OT), the Kings were eliminated from playoff contention at the hands of the Calgary Flames.
The Kings now become the first team since to follow up a cup year with not making the playoffs since the Carolina Hurricanes did it in 2005-06 and 2006-07.
Not exactly a stat you want to be associated with, but that is the case.
The Kings got down early to the Flames, and could not quite crawl back into it despite putting up a spirited effort in the final two frames. Much like the majority of the year, it was short lapses of really bad hockey that ended up thwarting Los Angeles.
A bad opening 20 minutes trumped two good periods of hockey. Two good stretches of games in the early goings and from February on, could not make up for the lost points accumulated in December and January.
While those bad stretches are glaring, the Kings lack of performance in shootouts was also a factor. The Kings lost eight of ten games in a shootout this season, which would have been more than enough to clinch a spot had they won even half of those.
Call it luck, call it skill, but the shootout was not kind. Some are more inclined to believe the Kings were victim to some bad luck this season when it came to our post-65 minute friend the shootout.
After a spirited debate with friends of the blog, the Jewels From the Crown folks, it is hard to argue with that. Here is a good gem from J.T. Dutch.
@SirJDL pic.twitter.com/MdGqOkhfSE
— J.T. Dutchâ„¢ (@JTDutch) April 10, 2015Be that as it may, it would not be fair to some of the other teams out there to discount it all to luck. Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Calgary all played well enough down the stretch that every Kings win really did not matter. It was all to keep pace, and in the end that is something the Kings could not do.
On some levels they were the architects of their own demise with inconsistent play. Then there were the uncontrollable factors of bad luck, injuries, and at least one really terrible off-ice happening.
Of the things that could be controlled, the Kings rarely put together full 60-minute efforts on a regular basis this season. The scoring depth was also limited to just about three or four players. Crippling cap space, or lack thereof, and some excruciatingly bad years from key players are also to blame. There were also a few personnel decisions that Darryl Sutter should not be completely free of criticism for.
There will be plenty of time to talk about these things in the coming weeks and months, as the Kings now embark on their longest offseason since 2008-09.
The run of five straight years, two cups, and a Conference Final certainly cannot, and should not, be overlooked in frustration.
The Kings have questions this offseason. They may have answers. Time will tell.
What needs to change? Is there a great need for change?
Discuss and dissect in the comments!
Also, who are your picks for the playoffs now? Who will you be supporting?
It will be odd for the Kings and their fans to have a break from April-June that is for certain. However, the Kings are not that far away from where they were last year. A few key injuries, bad bounces, and bad stretches was all that was needed to usurp them from their throne.
They will be back next season. Book it.
A brief but sincere congratulations has to go out to the Jets and Flames. Their respective fanbases have waited some time for playoff hockey, and they have it. MTS Center and the ScotiaBank Saddledome are going to be alive in the postseason. Jets dealt with their fair share of off-ice drama and injuries, while the Calgary Flames had every stat guy (Myself included) on their back from day one about being "Unsustainable". But those two teams pulled it off, much to the dismay of the LA Kings faithful. Congratulations are still in order.
Also a big thank you has to go out to all of the readers here on the blog for participating and making it what it is. Thank you. Not enough can be said about you all. Even if some of you are of the trolling variety! I sincerely hope you all stick with HB through the summer while we attempt to pick up the pieces of what was a very frustrating end to a hopeful LA Kings season.
Walk this one off, and we will come back in a few days to try and dissect the downfall of the now former Champions.
It is over, LA Kings. Et tu Calgary?
