The Los Angeles Kings keep on coming and have continued to find a way to remain in a position where the playoffs could very well be a reality. The problem right now isn’t the way they are playing; it’s the fact that the other five teams competing for the same spots aren’t going away either. All that means is that the success they have had over the past week and a half has done nothing but keep them up to par with everyone else.
As far as what the Kings can control, which is how they perform, you couldn’t ask for a better outcome on their recent five-game road trip. This was a make-or-break point in the season that featured two back-to-backs in the span of six days, and they were able to collect seven of a possible 10 points going 3-1-1, knocking off both the Columbus Blue Jackets and Boston Bruins (two teams vying for a playoff spot in the East), as well as the New York Rangers who were 6-2-2 in their previous 10 games. Prudential Center against the New Jersey Devils was the only building where they couldn’t salvage at least a point.
Before embarking on their five-game road trip, the Kings sat three points out of the final wild card spot in the West, indicating the importance of picking up points throughout the trip. Fast forward to today, and they sit tied with the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card spot with 71 points apiece and just four points back of the Edmonton Oilers for third place in the Pacific Division, with a game in hand.
Extended road trips have served the Kings well over the course of the season; road games in general have provided a better product, but the success they found throughout this one felt more meaningful due to the implications it had on their playoff chances.
Under D.J Smith, the Kings have a new identity, and certain aspects of that propelled their success as they trekked through the Eastern United States.
The Kings Can Score Now
If you had told me a few months ago that the Kings were capable of scoring three or more goals in consecutive games, I would have laughed in your face. Ranked near the bottom in goals for, all season long, they have found a new offensive engine under Smith, and they showcased that multiple times throughout the road trip.
A rejuvenated Kings group has found ways to generate offense at a higher rate, more consistently, and in different ways. Not only are they scoring goals, but they are scoring goals in bunches. For a team that has taken it upon themselves to create an identity where there’s a constant and collective effort to attack and be aggressive, they have found themselves being able to generate multi-goal leads.
Aside from an extremely tight game in Boston, the Kings averaged 3.75 goals a game during their road trip. Just for reference, they have averaged 2.63 goals a game all season.
Producing offense at this rate was missing from this group all season, but Smith has seemed to be able to unlock the Kings’ offensive capabilities, which, honestly, was the biggest reason for their success on the road.
No one said the Kings have been flawless, and even though their tenacious agenda has allowed for an uptick in offense and the ability to generate multi-goal leads, the struggle has been staying consistent with that for all three periods, which has led to allowing teams back into games.
It’s not all that surprising, though. It’s hard to play that aggressive, physical style for a full 60 minutes. The Kings have had some scares when it comes to allowing teams back into games and attempting multi-goal comebacks, but it’s not like it’s gotten to a point where they’re losing multiple games. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been able to go 3-1-1. That being said, it’s something they would like to clean up for when they play a team like the Buffalo Sabres or Utah Mammoth, which they will be coming up here, or if they manage to squeak into the playoffs and are up against an offensive juggernaut like the Colorado Avalanche, who will capitalize on every inch of room given to them.
Related: A New Approach Under D.J Smith Has the Kings Looking Like a Different Team
Along with the offensive improvement has come the uptick in contributions from the back end. The Kings have currently received the fourth fewest points from defenseman this season. Getting contributions from their blue line has been difficult, but over the course of their road trip, as they continue to navigate and build upon this new approach under Smith, the Kings’ defensemen have been able to help put pucks into the net.
Brandt Clarke has been a constant force offensively all season long, but individuals like Brian Dumoulin, Mikey Anderson, and Drew Doughty have all found ways to impact the scoreboard and aid in the Kings’ ability to get the puck into the offensive zone and get pucks to the net. There’s been less of that hot potato, take a quick and harmless shot from the point, and more of an effort to hold onto pucks, find open shooting lanes, and wait for forwards to crash the front of the net.
Whether the Kings’ defensemen are jumping up into the rush after facilitating a breakout, finding open ice along the perimeter, being there as an option for the winger as they enter the zone, or just placing pucks in good areas, there’s no doubt that this change in style from the back end has aided the Kings’ offense and ultimately their ability to win games during this crucial point of the season.
The Kings’ successful road trip has kept them right in the thick of things, as each game moving forward becomes more and more important. They have found a winning formula and an approach that allows them to take matters into their own hands and push the pace as opposed to allowing their opponents to dictate what chances they can generate.
If the Kings plan on making a postseason appearance, a lot of what we witnessed on this past road trip will need to continue to be present.
