.

Second chances are now unavailable.

You’re going to simply sink aside with the rest if you can’t overcome new challenges. To the world, you become just another team. It’s that quick, it’s that easy, it’s that painful.

The Kings have stymied their way through obstacles they hadn’t had to endure during their phenomenal Stanley Cup Championship run last year. They’ll be playing their 13th NHL postseason game Tuesday evening. Staples Center will be the setting.

Up until now, it’s been about Darryl Sutter and his roster being able to continually adapt against the opposition with clear and precise control. For the first time as Kings’ head coach, Darryl Sutter and his bench have failed to take complete, and absolute control of a playoff series.

They raised the Stanley Cup in an astoundingly short 20-game span last year. The Kings lost just four times during last postseason’s run. They’ve lost five this time around, and we’re still in the second round.

Since the magical night of June 11th, 2012, this franchise has glistened as the NHL‘s premier club, channeling airwaves and news feeds across North America, whilst giving a boost to hockey’s popularity and it’s playing population in Southern California and across the West Coast like the region hasn’t seen since Wayne Gretzky‘s arrival in 1988.

24 Years Ahead

Great Escape: The Kings last hosted a Game 7 contest at home in Los Angeles in April of 1989, during Wayne Gretzky‘s first season in Los Angeles. The Kings were playing at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood at the time, and won that Game 7 contest against the Edmonton Oilers in the Smythe Division Semifinals with a convincing 6-3 win.

Woodchuck Chuck

Tuesday night, Staples Center will host it’s first ever Game 7 NHL contest in the building’s 14-season existence.

The Kings as a franchise, their first in 24 years.

Straight-Faced

Straight-Laced: As tumultuous, as back-and-forth this series against the San Jose Sharks has been, the six games played have actually donned light on a few trends the Kings must adhere to in order to come out triumphant Tuesday night.

Hospitality

The Kings undoubtedly have the upper hand on Tuesday night’s contest in one major, widely talked about facet – which is home ice. The deciding contest of this Western Conference Semifinals series will be played in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center.

All six games of this series thus far have been won by the home team.

It’s an attractive trend to behold, but you’d be obnoxious to lean on it.

Man Down

The Kings have surrendered powerplay goals to the San Jose Sharks in three games during this series. In all three of those contests, the Kings have lost – feeding every single one of San Jose’s victories in this series with their own, and at times undisciplined doings.

When the Sharks have executed on the powerplay, it’s been huge for them. Their first man-advantage tally, in Game 3, tied the contest late, leading to San Jose’s OT win. Their second and third powerplay goals came early in Games 4 and 6, where they were able to uphold their quick success and churn out a win.

It’s about being disciplined.

It’s about staying out of the box. And hell, if someone goes there, the upcoming 2:00 minutes better be the hardest you’ve played all season.

Train Horn

The Kings scored as many goals in last Sunday evening’s Game 5 dance at Staples Center as they have in all three games at San Jose’s HP Pavilion during the series. And when they’ve been at HP Pavilion, the Kings lose, and they don’t score.

However, they didn’t get embarrassed. Far from it actually. All three Kings’ losses in this series happened at HP Pavilion, and they’ve all come by way of a 2-1 score in the Sharks’ favor.

Scoring seems to be the issue here.

The Kings have failed to bury more than a single goal per contest in each of their three losses during this series against the San Jose Sharks.

The games they’ve won have held a different story, however, which have all been at Staples Center. In the Kings’ three wins against San Jose, all in Downtown Los Angeles, they’ve outsored the San Jose Sharks by a goal total of 9-3, shutting them out in two of those dances via the magic of Jonathan Quick.

Add it Up

Seven

To Do:

Keep San Jose’s powerplay out of the picture.

Score first. The Sharks can’t seem to overcome.

Faceoffs. The Kings absolutely have to draw even on Tuesday night, at worst.

If the Kings can score more than one goal in 60 minutes, which in doing so could’ve put this series to sleep last week while now awaiting the Chicago Blackhawks or Detroit Red Wings, they can win Tuesday night.

If Jonathan Quick shows up.

If things go as they should.

If there’s enough reason

Or if One isn’t Enough

The last time the Kings were withheld from any type of NHL play was on the night of April 25, 2011 at Staples Center, when the San Jose Sharks‘ Joe Thornton snagged life from this roster with an OT goal in Game 6 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

This one has all the looks you’d want for a Game 7 matchup.

I’ll say one more thing:

If you translated this into the outcome of tomorrow night’s game. Sh*t, you mine as well just cancel the thing. Mail it in.

Holy f*ck.

Get on the Buss

Success has been in the works for a long time.

Don’t let it slip away.

Puck drops for Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinals in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center against the San Jose Sharks at 6:00PM PST.

Episode 199 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 5 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Episode 198 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 3&4 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
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Warning signs are amidst.

Things have gone from comfortably controlled to ice cold.

Game 5, for the Kings, is about as close to “must win” as you can get without meaning it literally. If the Kings are to lose tonight at Staples Center, they head back to face the San Jose Sharks in Game 6 at HP Pavilion where the “must win” terminology will be as real and literal as it could possibly get.

The Sharks are undeniably phenomenal on home ice, they’ve lost only two games in regulation time in their home confines at HP Pavilion this season.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 198: LAK-SJS Game 3&4 WCSF RECAP

The Kings, likewise, own their ice sheet. Downtown Los Angeles has been a brutal location for opposing NHL clubs this season. Aside from owning the best home record in the NHL throughout the regular season, the Kings have won all five of their postseason games at Staples Center this season, including both of the opening contests against the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference Semifinals.

Let’s hope the trend continues, or else the Kings are in major trouble.

The word to describe it rhymes with ‘pucked’.

King Threat

Looking for an Answer

Domination Station: Although the Kings were only beat 2-1 in each of the last two contests on the road at HP Pavilion, they were outworked, outplayed, and thoroughly controlled by the San Jose Sharks in every facet of the game.

If the Kings don’t have Jonathan Quick in the crease, this series could be a lot uglier than it is right now.

In fact, it could already be over.

Quick has regained the stellar play that earned him the NHL‘s Conn Smythe Trophy last season, and has undoubtedly been the reason the Kings have been able to maintain pace with the San Jose Sharks thus far.

A goaltender, no matter how solid, can only save the team as a whole for so long. To compliment fantastic play from a goalie, the players in front of him need to return the favor by not allowing constant puck control in their own zone, and creating it on the other end – away from their own crease.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Needs it, deserves it: And that respect needs to come in the form of on-ice production. You can praise his play all you want through analysis, but it’s going to do nothing for the Kings’ overall success unless he’s a label of perfection of tonight.

And even for Jonathan Quick, that’s asking a lot in the NHL postseason, and against one of the league’s most lethal offensive tandems in the San Jose Sharks.

It begins at, well, the start of the game, where the Kings have been brutally lackadaisical the previous two contests. The Kings don’t need just early pressure on the Sharks, but an early goal. Against San Jose, your chances only get worse the longer you fail to score, the longer you play Russian Roulette with San Jose’s offensive-prone lineup.

Darryl Sutter needs to work a bit of lineup magic tonight, possibly juggling lines until the Kings show signs of their regular selves.

The Replacements

M.I.A: The Kings were granted quite possibly the most crucial aspect to finding success in the NHL playoffs last season, and that folks, is health. It hasn’t been the same story this season, the Kings heavily weakened on the defensive end without Willie Mitchell, and with a less-than fully productive Matt Greene.

The offense is hurting as well, which shows in the Kings poor offensive results in the previous two games of this series, tallying one goal in each of the past two contests at HP Pavilion.

Offense comes with controlling the puck. And controlling the puck comes from winning faceoffs. Without Jarret Stoll, who has been out with concussion-like syndromes since Game 1, the Kings have been absolutely dominated on referee puck-drops.

Faceoffs set the tone for the upcoming play. And quite frankly, puck possession will bode quite well for you. The Kings, without a doubt, need to win some pucks tonight at Staples Center.

Since Jarret Stoll went down after Raffi Torres‘ high hit in Game 1, the Sharks have gone 113-79 against the Kings in the faceoff circle. The Kings are sorely missing Stoll, their top player in the circle.

And it’s not in faceoffs alone, Jarret Stoll is a staple on the Kings special teams rotation, and the San Jose Sharks have executed in those situations the past two games.

The Sharks won their Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the Vancouver Canucks by getting rich on the man-advantage, scoring an astounding seven powerplay goals in four games. The Sharks have scored two powerplay goals on the Kings in the past two games, winning Game 3 in OT and taking an early lead in Game 4 on the man-advantage.

The only two losses for the Sharks this postseason have come when the Kings have shut down their powerplay.

It’s about staying out of the penalty box. It’s oh so crucial against this team.

Two’s Company

Bad Visit

The Skate of Shame

And those shuffles to the box could quickly lead to a much worse situation than a 2:00 minute personal sit-down with an off-ice official.

It could be the stride to the Kings’ elimination, and their summer.

Lineup Shuffle

Hot-Hand Needed: There are some pretty notable lineup changes heading into tonight’s Game 5 contest at Staples Center. Darryl Sutter hasn’t been receiving quality production from a few big names on this roster, namely the first line likes of Anze Kopitar and Dustin Brown, who have been almost invisible on the offensive end.

Brown, who’s mixed in time in the penalty box along with his rather uncharacteristically struggling play, will be demoted to Darryl Sutter‘s third line tonight, playing alongside Dwight King and Trevor Lewis. However, he will be back at his normal position of Right Wing.

Swapping spots with Dustin Brown, and joining Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams on the Kings’ first line tonight will be Kyle Clifford, who, when not out with injury, has consistently been one of the biggest assets of energy and effort on this roster.

Clifford has a good Résumé against the San Jose Sharks, both during this past regular season, and the Kings’ matchup against the Sharks in the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Clifford buried two goals against the Sharks at Staples Center on March 16th, and also found time to feed Douglas Murray his own teeth.

Change is good.

Catch ‘em From A Different Angle

But Hit ‘em Square

Lookin’ at You

You’ve gotta earn it.

Tonight’s contest is huge. The Kings, who look to get off the backs of their heels tonight, are facing a challenge unlike any they saw last series, or throughout the entirety of last year’s playoffs.

Tonight’s a test.

Puck drops in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center for Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Jose Sharks at 7:30PM PST.

Episode 198 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 3&4 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Episode 197 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 2 WCSF RECAP – HERE
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And like that, the series is tied. The Los Angeles Kings lose a difficult game on the road 2-1 to the San Jose Sharks to net the series at 2 games a piece. In this new episode, Keith makes his triumphant return as we breakdown Game 4, give a Playoff Beard update, present our Top Ten fun facts about San Jose, California and preview Game 5 at Staples Center. GO Kings!

Featured Songs: “Battlelines” and “The People” by Bella Novela and “Gameshow” by Suburban Rhythm.

What a game! In dramatic fashion, the Los Angeles Kings storm back to stun the San Jose Sharks in Game 2, pushing their series lead to 2-0. In this installment Alex and Chris discuss all that was Game 2, give a Playoff Beard update, breakdown the impact of the Stoll & Torres situation and preview Game 3 in San Jose. Go Kings!

The 2nd round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs has begun and the Kings start off strong with a shutout W. In this episode we breakdown Game 1 between the Los Angeles Kings and the San Jose Sharks, discuss the similarities and history between the 2 teams, give a Playoff Beard update and preview Game 2 at Staples Center. Go Kings! http://www.kingscast.net

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The Kings showed their ability to come from behind in their first-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues, crawling out of a two-games to none ditch.

Right now, their focus is staying ahead; staying ahead of the San Jose Sharks – a team that is equally as capable of overcoming a two-game deficit as the Kings are.

They say a two-goal lead is the hardest to hold in hockey.

A two-game lead, well that can certainly behold the same difficult implications.

The Kings will have to push to stay ahead of the San Jose Sharks heading into Game 4 of their Western Conference Semifinals series Tuesday evening at HP Pavilion, after falling in Game 3 by way of a 2-1 score that saw the Sharks regain life with a game-winning tally off the stick of Logan Couture early in the OT frame.

The Sharks have lost only twice this season in their home confines at HP Pavilion, where they’ve played a total of 27 games.

The Kings, on the other hand, have only won a single (1) game on the road since the month of March.

How do you define difficult?

Comfortable doesn’t exist right now.

Winning in Northern California’s hostile confines can give the Kings a taste of comfort, however.

Game 4 can send the Sharks to the brink.

It can also make this much closer of a series than you would want it to be.

Putting a Spin on it

How do you want it?

Short-sighted: The Kings continue to be without a few key players from their lineup, namely Jarret Stoll, who hasn’t returned to the lineup since the horrendous blindsided blow he took from the now-suspended Raffi Torres in Game 1 of the series.

Stoll, who has continually grown to be one of the most dependable and useful players on the roster, is being sorely missed. Jarret Stoll is the Kings’ best forward in the faceoff circle, he’s a staple on the Kings’ penalty-kill, and he’s a regular on the Kings’ powerplay rotation.

The Kings, who had been able to regroup to cover the loss of Jarret Stoll in Game 2 by shutting down the Sharks on special teams, were fully exposed Saturday night in Game 3.

They’re getting drilled in the faceoff circle. And that’s oh so crucial to the San Jose Sharks‘ success.

Also missing is Kyle Clifford, who has been a big-time performer in the past against San Jose in the postseason, and Matt Greene, who is a specialist in clearing out opponent’s traffic in front of Jonathan Quick – and traffic, without a doubt, has been the Sharks’ strongest strategy.

But thankfully, and fruitfully, the Kings are getting some assistance from the prospects.

From Manchester

With Love

Youth Groove: The Kings’ have been getting some unexpected appearances by youth prospects in their system during the postseason, with Tyler Toffoli, Jake Muzzin, and Tanner Pearson all making their NHL postseason debuts this year.

To raise the bar a level, Tanner Pearson didn’t just make his NHL postseason debut Saturday night against the San Jose Sharks, but his NHL debut as well.

The kid couldn’t have been level-headed. There’s no way.

He might’ve been as coherent as a teenager five beers deep.

Shockingly, however, Tyler Toffoli has been performing in the big-time picture magnificently. And, well, quite impressively.

He presented himself as a worthwhile asset after being added to the lineup in Game 4 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues. And he’s apparently proved himself as well, as head coach Darryl Sutter has stuck with the young, inexperienced forward.

Tyler Toffoli has registered points in the Kings’ previous two games against the San Jose Sharks, assisting on Trevor Lewis‘ game-tying goal in Game 2 at Staples Center, and scoring the Kings’ only goal in Game 3 at HP Pavilion.

It’s a youth movement, if you will.

Purple Days

Flavor of the Week: The prospects in the Kings’ organization who came up from the AHL‘s Manchester Monarchs were a big story during last year’s postseason run as well, but those names have changed.

Call it a Sophomore slump if you want, because Dwight King and Jordan Nolan have been disturbingly silent not just during the playoffs, but the season as a whole.

Young bloods.

Like Jordan

Take a Seat

Point at Detroit

How about burying one, Dwight. Then we’ll talk Detroit.

Dwight King hasn’t registered a goal since the Kings’ March 25th contest against the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s got two assists through nine playoff games this season, and holds a less than impressive -1 rating.

Don’t talk back, kid

Speakeasy

Game Four Pour

Short-Circuit: The Kings were able to eliminate San Jose’s biggest threat from their offensive tandem throughout the first two games of the series, but crumbled Saturday night in the worst way, and time, possible.

The San Jose Sharks swept through the Western Conference Quarterfinals with ease against the Vancouver Canucks, and it had quite a bit to do with special teams offensive production.

San Jose scored seven powerplay goals against the Vancouver Canucks in their four-game sweep against Brititsh Columbia’s finest.

In their first two contests against the Kings in the Western Conference Semifinals, the Sharks were shutout on their man-advantage opportunities, going 0-7 against the Kings on their powerplay.

However, three is key.

The Sharks buried both of their goals against the Kings in Game 3 Saturday night on the powerplay advantage.

As you know, that’s the kiss of death when playing the San Jose Sharks.

And as you know…

Someone needs to make a leading statement on this team.

And they need to do it in Game 4.

Word has it, he’s back

Word has it.

How ironic, the Ottawa Senators won their Game 3 contest against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2nd OT period on Sunday.

We’ve got ourselves a sorely-missed asset back in the mix. Maybe.

Comeback Cliff

Call us Rich

But who’s Counting

Who’s Fronting

Richy Rich.

Let’s hope for Christmas-like expectations Tuesday night.

Puck drops for Game 4 of the Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 7:00PM PST against the San Jose Sharks at HP Pavilion.

Episode 196 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 1 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Episode 197 KingsCast TV: LAK-SJS Game 2 WCSF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
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The Kings will stay within California State boundaries for their Western Conference Semifinals series after their triumphant comeback to oust the St. Louis Blues in six games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, winning four straight contests against St. Louis after facing an early, and gut-checking two-loss deficit.

How they continue to grow.

A best-of-seven date is slated to start against the San Jose Sharks in Downtown Los Angeles Tuesday night at Staples Center.

Everything was aligned for the Kings’ second-round series to involve our neighbors from Orange County – the other NHL club from Southern California.

The Anaheim Ducks just couldn’t keep up.

The Kings will move up, and do so against their Pacific Division opponent from up North, who they have recent postseason history against.

San Jose was the opponent in the Kings 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals series, and it was a lopsided affair that turned out to be much closer than expected, and was certainly closer than the results that series ultimately showed.

The Sharks prevailed against us in the 2011 NHL Playoffs, but it was so against a much younger, weaker Kings roster.

If you compare the growth and improvement of each of these rosters since that 2011 postseason bout, the Kings’ plus-side blows the Sharks out of the water.

The Kings were without Anze Kopitar in that one and only previous postseason matchup with the San Jose Sharks, while he was recovering from a broken ankle that left him out of the lineup indefinitely.

But the young stars were definite.

Doughty’s dos

No Dought

Drew Doughty, who was moderately quiet throughout the majority of the regular season, but ended up with a respectable six goals and 16 assists for 22 points at season’s end, reignited his clutch offensive ways Friday night against the St. Louis Blues in Game six, notching the Kings’ first goal of the contest with the kind of moves and suave we’ve come to know all too well from #8 the previous two years.

Playoff ‘Bout

Youth Hangout

Plus Some: The Kings’ youth carried them through their last postseason matchup against the San Jose Sharks in 2011, but their development – plus some absolutely crucial additions to the roster via the aggressive ways of GM Dean Lombardi, should make this upcoming Western Conference Semifinals series a great opportunity not just for revenge, but overall self-proof of what this roster has beautifully grown to become to be.

Kyle Clifford‘s the one player who you can connect with both the Kings’ current position, and the Kings’ playoff matchup against the San Jose Sharks in April of 2011.

He was, at times, the best player for the Kings in this past Western Conference Quarterfinals series against the St. Louis Blues.

And as an NHL rookie, he was rocking the same type of impact.

Red Dog, Light

Purple light: The Kings, in that series, would retire a bit of history, wearing purple on the road for the final time in their 3-1 victory in Game 5 of the 2011 Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The player to tally the third and final goal for the Kings in their purple visiting sweaters was Dustin Penner, the same player to bury the game-winning tally on Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues.

Oil left in the Tank

The White/Purple road uniforms were retired that year.

The Black/Purple home uniforms were retired this year.

Dustin Penner won’t be a King next year.

It’s just mother nature’s cycle.

Laser Penner

Don’t get caught up with Dustin Penner now, just love his current play. It’s like a dying light bulb shining it’s brightest before it’s, well, ending.

If playoffs was in her Pepsi cup

This innocent little girl would be choking.

Whether it be like Old Times

Or what Today finds

Just let it Roll

Fresh Feelings

The Kings played the San Jose Sharks only four times during this season’s shortened and compacted schedule due to the NHL‘s rather lengthy lockout.

They pulled out ahead in the end, but just barely, finishing with a 2-1-1 record against Northern California’s black and teal.

Each team has earned two points when playing in home confines. The Kings, however, were able to snag a point from San Jose at HP Pavilion on April 16th, forcing that night’s date with the Sharks to go past regulation.

The Kings outscored the Sharks 13-10 during regulation play.

It’s all off the books now.

Don’t depend on anything.

Not even a Hail Mary

Puck drops against the San Jose Sharks for Game 1 of the NHL‘s Western Conference Semifinals Tuesday night at 7:00PM PST in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center.

Episode 194 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 5 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Episode 195 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 6 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
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The 2013 NHL regular season concludes as the Kings land in the 5 spot. In this installment we quickly breakdown the games against the Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, Detroit Red Wings & San Jose Sharks, present our Top 5 Reasons why playing the St. Louis Blues in Round 1 is awesome, introduce our KingsCast Playoff Beard tracker and preview the playoffs.

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Saturday night’s regular season finale could be a case of déjà vu, it could be a precursor.

Pick your outlook at-will.

Even after three consecutive NHL postseason appearances and a Stanley Cup championship to their name, the Kings, in that span, have yet to start a playoff series at Staples Center.

The Kings haven’t had the numbers to earn home-ice advantage in a playoff series in 21 years, not since their 1992 Smythe Division Semifinals series against the Edmonton Oilers, when the Kings still played at Inglewood’s Great Western Forum.

According to the Kings’ opponent coming to Staples Center Saturday, it’s déjà vu for you. The Kings also finished off last year’s regular season slate against the San Jose Sharks, albeit in Northern California at the HP Pavilion.

According to the Kings’ current positioning in the NHL‘s Western Conference standings, Saturday’s regular season date with the Sharks is a precursor to a possible first-round playoff matchup against San Jose in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Beside the San Jose Sharks, there are two other possible opponents the Kings could see come the start of the playoffs being the St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks.

Of the Kings’ three possible first-round playoff opponents, they have seen each one of them at least once in the postseason the previous three years.

There’s nothing wrong with some familiarity come the playoffs. The Kings are 6-5 against the Vancouver Canucks (WCQF 2010, WCQF 2012), they’re 4-0 against the St. Louis Blues (WCSF 2012), and 2-4 against the San Jose Sharks (WCQF 2011).

Those results are far from shabby.

The same can’t be said for the Kings’ recent two-game swing in the Midwest.

Chin Check

Hunt for Home

If either the Kings or Sharks want any hope of snagging the the final ‘home-ice’ slot (4th) in the Western Conference standings, the St. Louis Blues must lose to the Chicago Blackhawks in regulation Saturday night at Scottrade Center.

If the Blues do in fact lose, the Kings matchup with the Sharks Saturday night has a simply, yet bold implication. They’ll be playing for home-ice advantage in the Western Conference Quarterfinals – flat out, no other fine print in the mix.

Home-ice advantage is something the Kings want, even after the outstanding 10-1 record they pulled off in opposing buildings last spring during the 2012 NHL Playoffs.

The Kings own the NHL‘s best record on home ice this season, playing ruthless hockey at Staples Center, posting an 18-4-1 record.

Kyle Clifford, who scored the lone goal in the Kings’ loss to the Detroit Red Wings Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena, knows the grounds of a playoff matchup with the San Jose Sharks all too well.

San Jose, can you see

The #13 Lean

Going Fourth, California North

Office Talk

Ice Gawk

Defensive when it’s Offensive: The Kings have had dates with the San Jose Sharks on three previous occasions this season, tallying up a 1-1-1 record. Each club has won when playing on home ice.

The Kings put on an offensive clinic March 16 at Staples Center, whaling on the Sharks with goals aplenty in a 5-2 victory that saw 12 Kings players record at least one point.

In both contests against the Sharks at HP Pavilion this season, March 14 and April 16, the Kings lost both times; Once in regulation, and once in extended time, falling in a shootout decider in the most recent date against the Sharks on April 16.

Defenseman Matt Greene hasn’t played against the San Jose Sharks this season, missing all three dates while recovering from back surgery, from an injury he suffered on January 19 against the Chicago Blackhawks. Greene returned to the Kings’ lineup last Thursday, but in unpolished form.

Matt Greene won’t play against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday night either.

When you’re injured and out of the lineup for 42 consecutive contests, the return isn’t going to be glamorous – especially when the rest of the roster is preparing for the most high-tempo point of the season, that being the playoffs.

Right now is a very dangerous time to return to action after an injury as a hockey player. I don’t care what level. In fact, it doesn’t even matter the sport.

If you’re not in regular game form, then maintaining pace in a postseason rhythm becomes a huge threat to the recovery process.

What you’re balancing with Matt Greene is extreme. A proven, yet still fragile defensive staple for the playoffs, or letting the asset train fruitfully for the next six months.

Was Ellerby that bad?

No time for family

It’s the playoffs, fool.

R.S.V.P.

Light Corps: Both Anze Kopitar and Jonathan Quick will be in the lineup for Saturday’s contest against the San Jose Sharks, but the Kings remain without Captain Dustin Brown, who received a two-game suspension from the NHL for his hit on Jason Pominville Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Darryl Sutter is expected to pencil in Jonathan Quick to start the regular season finale in the crease for the Kings. Quick, when shaky this season, has been so when the San Jose Sharks are the opponent. He’s started twice against San Jose this season, and those performances haven’t been worthy of space in the memory books.

Quick started the Kings’ first game against the Sharks this season, but was pulled from his duties by Darryl Sutter midway through the contest after surrendering three goals on San Jose’s first 12 shots.

Jonathan Bernier would come in for relief of Quick on March 14th, and start against the San Jose Sharks on April 16th – earning the win while stopping 20 of 22 Sharks shots in a 5-2 win at Staples Center.

Sutter would return to Jonathan Quick in the Kings’ last contest against the Sharks, and he was impressive to say the least. Jonathan Quick stopped 33 of San Jose’s shots, but surrendered a shootout tally to Raffi Torres, granting San Jose the win.

Anze Kopitar, who after suffering a broken ankle in March of 2011, was missed dearly in April of 2011 during the Kings’ playoff series against the San Jose Sharks, which saw the Kings swallow elimination in six games, losing three of their four bouts with the Sharks in overtime.

If there’s a solid time for Anze Kopitar to make his offensive presence known again, that time would most certainly be Saturday night.

Kopitar hasn’t scored since March 25th in Chicago, a 15-game span.

The Kings are without Dustin Brown again for Saturday’s meeting. You’d like to see Kopitar shoulder some success for this roster heading into the playoffs.

Don’t call it a Hail Mary

Captain’s Out

Due two his two-game suspension, Dustin Brown will miss the Kings’ regular season finale Saturday night. The Kings’ Captain will be back in action when it counts most, though, when the playoffs start next week.

If there’s one thing you can be sure about, it’s Brown’s return.

The Kings’ postseason status is up in the air on all counts, with home-ice scheduling and a first-round opponent still with tagged with multiple possibilities.

The beauty though, is the postseason certainty this organization has built in spectacular fashion.

You don’t need to act like you’ve been there before when you’ve been there before.

Time for another run.

See you Saturday

Be prepared for a dandy.

Puck drops in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center against the San Jose Sharks Saturday night at 7:30PM PST.

Episode 188 KingsCast TV: The March to the Playoffs – HERE
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One starts the show, two in :16 seconds can steal it.

Sometimes desperation wins.

For the Kings in St. Paul, Minnesota Tuesday night, desperation is what they were up against; a Minnesota Wild club that was clawing to maintain life in their efforts to clinch their first NHL postseason bid since with 2007-’08 season.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 188 – LA Kings March to the Playoffs, in April

The Kings mathematically clinched a playoff berth over the weekend, but they’re still fighting to take hold of another accomplishment, and one that could most certainly play a respectable role come the start of the playoffs next week.

That’s home-ice advantage, something the Kings haven’t had in any of their playoff appearances the previous three seasons; unless it’s earned by winning on the road, of course. If home-ice was a factor during the playoffs last season, the Kings surely didn’t take it into account.

Home ice you say? The Kings barreled off a 10-1 record in opposing buildings last postseason.

However, Staples Center has been more than just the Kings’ home this season, it’s where they’re winning – it’s a place you’d like to see them kick off their defense of last year’s Stanley Cup Championship.

The Kings hold the NHL‘s best home record this season with an 18-4-1 mark.

Currently sitting at 4th-place in the NHL‘s Western Conference, the Kings are sitting in a spot that would grant them a series start at Staples Center if the playoffs started today. Two games still remain though, and both the St. Louis Blues (5th) and San Jose Sharks (6th) are both serious threats to overtake the Kings’ comfortable position right now, both of them one and two points behind in the standings respectively.

Before the Kings return home to close out the regular season against the San Jose Sharks at Staples Center next Saturday night, it’s a quick visit to Detroit, Michigan and the Joe Louis Arena on Wednesday evening.

The Detroit Red Wings, who the Kings are familiar with on home-ice in the postseason.

And a team that is flirting, and heavily so, with failing to qualify for the NHL playoffs for the first time in 21 seasons.

That’s why they call it ‘HockeyTown‘.

You’d have to back-track to 1990 since Michigan’s wheel and wing was outside of the NHL‘s playoff picture.

Detroit at Home

To Detroit, then Home

Two to go: The Kings, 46 games into this year’s shortened campaign, have two games left on the regular season’s slate. One of them is on the road, against a team that is fighting to earn a spot in the playoffs. The other is home at Staples Center, against a well-known foe that is fighting to overtake the Kings in the standings to earn home-ice confines in the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

The Detroit Red Wings maintained their postseason pace with a win against the Phoenix Coyotes Monday night, which just about put the Coyotes’ playoff hopes to rest.

This time, Detroit did it to Phoenix in the regular season.

The Kings have seen the Detroit Red Wings twice this season, once at home and once in Michigan. The series is split 1-1-0, with each club earning a win in their home building.

The first contest between the two on February 10 at Joe Louis Arena was decided with under five seconds to play. The second contest, this time at Staples Center on February 17, was decided with under five minutes to play.

 Kopi’s got Wings

Fly High

Proven Performance(s)

A Cold Bern

Crease Conundrum: After seeing head coach Darryl Sutter swap goaltenders for a solid period of time throughout the middle of the season, Jonathan Quick subtly earned back his ‘every day’ label, getting the call in the previous five Kings’ contests prior to Tuesday night, and six of the Kings’ previous seven.

Jonathan Quick returned to his old, solidly dependable form, going 4-0-1 in a stretch in which he started five consecutive games for the Kings.

Jonathan Bernier, who started his 11th game this season Tuesday night, lost his first start in regulation against the Minnesota Wild, getting caught after what was a very strong start by the Kings, to surrender two goals within :16 seconds of each other in the first period.

Quick will be back in the crease tomorrow in Detroit, Michigan, and likely again at Staples Center on Saturday night.

The goaltending situation is just about as good as it can be heading into the playoffs. Jonathan Quick, with a healthy streak of contests under his wing, has found what seems to be last season’s form back in his swing.

And if needed, Jonathan Bernier is there.

Who is, and extremely arguably so, the best backup goalie option any of the NHL‘s 16 playoff teams have on their depth chart.

Voynov’s gotta go high

Minnesota’s Alive: There are times when the failure to execute on a golden opportunity can be exonerated by the team’s overall performance throughout the game. The Kings didn’t play a full 60 minutes of hockey Tuesday night, they got caught sleeping early, and by then, it was too late.

When you lay back, you don’t get bounces.

When you lay back with a player that beholds the skill-set such as Mike Richards, you’ll still get passes.

You’ll still get chances, you’ll still get opportunity.

Vyacheslav Voynov‘s free on this one. Just needed a tad more lift on that release, kid.

Mike Richards‘ pass crossed more lanes than O.J.Simpson‘s Ford Bronco in ’94.

Look What I Found

Last Looks

Red Wings, Red Light: The Kings suffered from poor offensive results Tuesday night, and a lack of productivity on the special teams’ end may have something do to with it. The Kings had just one powerplay opportunity in Minnesota, and failed to record a shot.

This breaks the Kings’ streak of powerplay goals recorded in consecutive games, which was at an astounding eight straight contests with a Kings tally on the man-advantage.

Matt Greene has been himself, his ‘return from injury‘ self. Greene’s had some slips in quickness and coverage, but nothing a return to every day activity can’t mend. He’ll be along for the ride.

That ride hits it’s second-to-last regular season installment Wednesday night.

Big-eyed About it

Detroit’s got history on the line, and a Kings win would situate local playoff hockey just fine.

Puck drops in Detroit, Michigan at Joe Louis Arena at 4:30PM PST on Wednesday. Have the car’s radio-dial situated to KTLK 1150 AM for that cruise home from work.

Episode 188 KingsCast TV: The March to the Playoffs – HERE
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