The Kings Are Still The Favorites In The West

Is it possible that a team currently on the outside of the playoff picture this late in the season is the favorite to win the Western Conference? If you are the Los Angeles Kings, that is exactly the position you find yourselves in today as you prepare for the final nine games of the regular season.

To be fair, it’s not like the Kings are that far out of the playoffs. In fact, going into Wednesday night they are tied with the Calgary Flames for third in the Pacific Division, four points behind the Vancouver Canucks for second in the division, and are five points behind the Winnipeg Jets for the second wild card spot in the conference (with a game in hand). Thanks to tiebreakers, the Flames would secure third place in the division today over the Kings if the season were to end today. Fortunately for the Kings, the season doesn’t end until April 11^th.

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But to be the favorite when you’re going to have to scratch and claw your way back into the playoffs? For any other team it would sound ridiculous. For the Kings it’s just par for the course. Back in 2011/12 they were the 8^th seed before ripping through the playoffs with a 16-4 record. Last season they finished third in the Pacific Division, did not have home ice until the Finals, and won another Stanley Cup in five games. When people talk about “you just need to get in to have a chance,” they are looking in the direction of the Kings.

The Kings have turned up their play as of late, going 6-2-2 over the last ten games, including the first two games on their current five-game road trip. They put forth a business-like performance against the Devils on Monday and in a highly-anticipated game against their Finals’ foe last season and arguably the best team in the game, dismantled the Rangers 4-2 on Tuesday night. Despite allowing a goal in the opening minute, the Kings systematically broke down the vaunted Rangers’ attack and defensive structure that essentially put the league back on notice: we’re getting into playoff form- beware.

While the next three games of the road trip pits them against the Islanders, Blackhawks, and Wild, all playoff teams, does anyone have a doubt the Kings will find a way to keep collecting points at this part of the season?

All of this is terrible news for the Western Conference which should legitimately fear a Kings return to the playoffs. The best way to knock out the defending champs is to make sure they don’t get into the playoffs because once they get in, how many teams have the ability to beat them four times out of seven? They are a heavy, physical team and often dictate play against an opponent. Don’t think for a second that powerhouses like the Blues, Ducks, and Blackhawks aren’t sticking pins in their Kings’ voodoo dolls as we speak.

The Kings are right where they want to be in terms of team statistics: middle of the pack in goals scored per game, near the top in goals against, allowing the least amount of shots on goal per game, and for the advanced statistics community, they rank at the top or near the top in all significant possession stats at even strength. Basically, they’ve been playing playoff hockey all season, even if the wins haven’t always followed.

Yes, there have been times where they’ve gone into a funk with their play. This is a veteran team that has played 310 games the previous three seasons, most in the league over that period. While you can never accuse a team of taking nights off, this team also realizes they needed to conserve and pace themselves for the grind of another long season. They are playing a dangerous game battling for their playoff lives so late in the season, but winning high-pressure games is not something this team is intimidated by…in fact, they seem to excel in these situations. As cliché as it may be, players like Anze Kopitar, Jonathan Quick, Jeff Carter, and Drew Doughty just know how to win.

Despite the lack of a superstar that offensively lights up the score sheet, this Kings team is loaded with quality depth and size throughout the lineup. Their biggest issue most of the season- the need for a solid defenseman- was addressed with the acquisition of Andrej Sekera at the deadline. While many thought general manager Dean Lombardi paid too much by giving up a first round draft pick, the Kings aren’t worried about drafting and developing a teenager tomorrow….they are looking to win now.

As of today the odds the Kings win the Western Conference range from 7/1 to 17/2, depending on your book of choice, making them no better than sixth in the West to represent the conference in the Finals. Is there a fan of an opposing team that wants to wake up three weeks from now with their favorite team playing the Kings in round one of the playoffs? I didn’t think so (sorry Canucks fans, but this appears to be your destiny).

As we enter the final stretch of the regular season, the Kings once again should be the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the Stanley Cup Finals again this June. That’s bad news for everyone else.

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