The performance on Monday night was disappointing by all accounts.
The Kings accomplished the rare feat of giving up a third period lead at home. They also played with very little energy or effort against a Wild team entrenched in a playoff battle.
With similar circumstances facing the Kings on Wednesday night against other post-season hopeful, the Phoenix Coyotes, Kopitar and crew did not back down. With the victory the team earned themselves a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the fifth straight year.
It has been pretty certain for some time now that the Kings were going to make the playoffs. It was just a question of when rather than if. With their potential playoff mates in either Anaheim or San Jose already decided, these games mean very little to the team honestly.
You wouldn't think that by watching tonight though.
The energy was there from the puck drop for the Kings. They came out hitting, hounding the puck, and playing every shift at high energy. Whatever Sutter told them between the Minnesota game and the Phoenix game worked.
Phoenix on the other hand looked gassed, having played an extra period of hockey the previous night against the Jets.
It was apparent in the third period that the Coyotes was running on empty. Numerous defensive breakdowns and odd man rushes fell in favor of the Kings, and it was chance after chance for the home squad.
The Kings top-6 played a particularly impressive game, with both the Williams/Kopitar/Gaborik line and the Pearson/Carter/Toffoli line having numerous opportunities and contributions.
The Kings overall allowed only 17 shots on Jonathan Quick, while the offense put up another 30+ shot effort.
Get ready for the stat pack.
Carter, Pearson, and Kopitar each recorded multi-point nights, with Pearson getting the first of his career.
Alec Martinez AGAIN was on the stat sheet with two assists, which brings his recent totals to 14 points in his last 16 games. He also tied Jake Muzzin for a team high five hits and played a total of 19:37. The Kings defensive group has become much more cohesive and balanced since Martinez has stepped back into a regular role. Between He, Voynov, Doughty, and Muzzin, the Kings are getting close to four 20+ minute defenseman a night.
On the offensive side of the puck the Kings have looked like a new team at times with Gaborik in the lineup. Kopitar has been a man possessed lately and has 22 points in his last 20 games. The Slovenian is on pace to finish with just over 70 points for the fifth time in his eight seasons in the NHL.
Gaborik now has points in five straight, and 10 in his 15 games in a King uniform. Carter notched his 27th on the season and is three shy of crossing the 30 goal plateau for the first time since 2010-11 with the Flyers.
Quick recorded his sixth shutout of the year and the team has now officially set a new franchise record for most shutouts in a single season with 12 (6 Quick, 3 Jones, 3 Scrivens).
Alright, whew. Enough of the stats.
The turnaround from the January disaster to now has been phenomenal for the Kings, who for the first time in a long time it seems, are going to be clinched for the playoffs before the final games of the season.
It is coming from multiple areas of improvement as well. The discipline has been much improved, the offense has seemed to click a little bit better, the defense looks more balanced, and the powerplay has been threatening even when not scoring. You can't really point to one significant factor, it has really been a multitude of different things finally coming together. The Kings are certainly getting hot at the right time.
The Kings have just 6 games left in the season. They are 7-3-0 in their last 10, and 14-4-0 since the Olympic break. This is going to be a bottom seed folks, but one that no one is going to want to face.
With the Gaborik acquisition, the re-emergence of Dustin Brown, the stepping up of a few rookies in Toffoli and Pearson...this has an eerie, almost deja vu-ish sort of feel to the 2011-12 season. Part of that is the fan talking though, and once you get to the dance all bets are off.
One thing is for certain, the Kings are going into this postseason in the right vein of form as a team, and from many individual standpoints as well.
Playoff tickets are going on sale Saturday at 10am so don't hesitate! San Jose here we come?
We'll just have to wait and see.
Including tonight, the Kings get one last swing through the division before wrapping things up. With the Sharks on the docket for tomorrow night and the Ducks next Saturday, you could be looking at a little potential preview for what the first two rounds could have in store.
Back at it again tomorrow!
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