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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
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

For the second consecutive year, the Los Angeles Kings have defeated the St. Louis Blues to advance in the NHL Playoffs. In this new episode, Chris is once again joined by hockey blogger Alex Kinkopf to discuss Game 6, present a Playoff Beard Update (sort of), give an official See Ya! to the Blues and breakdown the Pros & Cons of playing the Sharks or Ducks in the next round. Go Kings!

Boom! The LA Kings storm back to take the game and even the series with the St. Louis Blues at 2 games a piece. In this new installment we breakdown Game 4, discuss the full team effort, give a Playoff Beard update and preview Game 5 in St. Louis. Go Kings!

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A trip home can do it all.

For the Kings, the two game return to Staples Center in their Western Conference Quarterfinals dance with the St. Louis Blues saw them pull off two consecutive wins, tying the series 2-2, while rediscovering their offense that trudged through an uncharacteristically cold and ugly start to the postseason.

They rediscovered their winning ways before rejuvenating their offense, winning 1-0 Saturday night at Staples Center in Game 3 of the series. The Kings maintained their one-goal-per game quota in Game 3, but this time around, Jonathan Quick made sure no off-hand mistakes were made to grant St. Louis any success.

Talk about a save.

The Kings were lifted by a defenseman offensively in their Game 3 shutout victory, Vyacheslav Voynov tallying the lone goal of the contest that would ultimately breathe new life into the Kings’ playoff run.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 192 – LAK/STL Game 3 WCQF RECAP

Voynov, who is playing in only his second NHL season, has looked like a veteran from the day he joined the Kings’ roster as a 21 year-old on the evening of October 18, 2011, his debut game which came against none other than the St. Louis Blues.

Since then, he’s solidified himself as an absolute staple to the Kings’ blue-line.

A staple that locked up Game 3.

Debut Strut

Pro Cut

Game 3 Kaput

Nothing New About it

Quick Fixin’

Cement in the Crease: The Kings, without Jonathan Quick, would not have had a prayer in even coming close in Games 1 and 2 in this series against the St. Louis Blues without last year’s Conn Smythe Trophy winner’s stalwart play.

You can’t expect much when you score just once in 60 minutes.

Unfortunately, though, Quick’s costly mistakes to Alexander Steen‘s penalty-kill pressure in Game 1 and Barret Jackman‘s hapless shot in Game 2 cost the Kings their two losses.

This was as much the fault of the Kings’ offense as it was Jonathan Quick‘s, but Quick proved to be the bigger asset first – granting the Kings a win without a shutout performance, stopping every single one of St. Louis’ 30 shots Saturday night.

The Kings’ struggling offense was saved in Game 3, but two nights later, they took matters into their own hands in Game 4.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 193 – LAK/STL Game 4 WCQF RECAP

Monday night proved to be a barn-burner at Staples Center, the Kings overcoming two deficits offensively, recording four goals against the St. Louis Blues to land their second-straight win, while finally giving Jonathan Quick some well-deserved support.

The scoring itself came in abundance, and it leaked to just about half of the Kings’ roster.

11 Kings players recorded at least one point in Game 4 Monday night.

Record it with a Penner and Paper

Circuit City

Purposeful Penner: Throughout his two-year tenure with the Kings, which will likely come to an end after this season, Dustin Penner‘s presence has been portrayed in a rather negative fashion, which, at times, has been the cold-hard and honest look at the veteran winger’s performance.

He’s found a new wind in the Kings’ playoff series against the St. Louis Blues, looking faster and more prone to induce production than he ever has in a Los Angeles uniform.

In his four games in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, Dustin Penner has been a hot commodity for the Kings’ offensive pressure.

Penner has laid 10 hits on St. Louis, he’s directed nine shots Brian Elliott‘s way, and he’s scored a goal, that quite frankly, the Kings couldn’t have done without in order to pull away with a win in Game 4 Monday night.

Who says you can’t still pull some moves as an aging NHL forward, on and off the ice, even after a nasty divorce.

It’s better than that pancake sh*t.

Speaker City

Kopitar Fitting

20 games, 41 days

That was the span Anze Kopitar had gone without recording a goal until he keyed on Dustin Brown‘s outstanding puck possession and the needle-thread like pass he fed to Kopitar in the 3rd period Monday night.

The Kings were just 12:46 minutes away from a dreadful 3-1 series deficit.

And then, the two most tenured players on this roster, the two names that have been the strongest identities to this organization, the two that have grown together during some of the darkest days this franchise has been through, came through.

Dustin Brown, who built the Kings’ game-tying goal in Game 4 Monday night with his utterly dominating possession of the puck deep in the Blues’ zone, was waiting anxiously for some help to execute on the defensive scramble St. Louis found itself in.

He was waiting for Anze Kopitar to come back.

Family Time

Anze Kopitar came home.

Nothing wrong with coming through the back door.

Rally back, Monkey off the back

Game 5 Jive

How do you want it: The Kings, fresh off a win that saw their rejuvenated roster record points from 11 different players in Game 4, head back to St. Louis, Missouri for Game 5 in the same exact fashion – rejuvenated. 

It’s back to Scottrade Center.

You couldn’t trade the game’s setting for the world.

Because when you’re playing, you’re playing.

Where? It shouldn’t matter.

Keep it going, now.

Puck drops in downtown St. Louis, Missouri Wednesday evening for Game 5 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues at Scottrade Center at 6:00PM PST.

Episode 192 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 3 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Episode 193 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 4 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

That’s more like it! The Los Angeles Kings hold on for a 1-0 win against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center in Game 3, making the series 2-1 Blues. In this episode we breakdown the game, preview Game 4, discuss Staples Center concessions, update our Playoff beard tracker and provide genius commentary. Go Kings!

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How do ya do?

Down 0-2, that’s new.

Here’s the story of Jarret Stoll‘s shift during Barret Jackman‘s game-winning goal in Game 2 Thursday night by the way.

It was so f*cking brutal the empty rage sickens, so I’ll avoid it.

Jarret Stoll was candy to St. Louis’ approach during the final minute.

Candy.

Tell me how happy you are.

Stomach it

How’s my hair

F*cking sh*t it was brutal.

Want to talk about leaving a goalie hung out to dry?

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 191 – LAK/STL Game 2 RECAP

Quick’s been hanging on clothes pins folks.

Roll with it

On to the Next One

The Kings begin a playoff series at Staples Center like no other way they have in recent history. They’re accustomed to hosting the third game of a series, but never have they done so when facing an 0-2 ditch in the past 12 years.

They’re going to have to prove themselves where they have the most all season long, on home-ice at Staples Center, where in 24 games, the Kings solidified the NHL‘s best home record, racking up a 19-4-1 record.

The Kings came back home to Staples Center 1-1 against the Vancouver Canucks in April of 2010, they came back home 1-1 against the San Jose Sharks in April of 2011, and came back home in all four postseason series’ with a dominating 2-0 series lead last spring during the 2012 playoffs.

If you were seeking adversity, it’s here; loud and clear.

If you want to look for an answer, don’t succumb to history.

Every playoff series the Kings have played against the St. Louis Blues in NHL history has been decided in a sweep, each club either winning every matchup, or losing in whole.

Looking back to last year won’t help you either, the Kings find themselves in completely new territory.

Even adversity ain’t free.

Old Times

Stoll’s Dimes

Take a Knee

Home Cooking

Save my Spot

Three’s Key: Scoring, and most notably, scoring first, will be a major factor for the Kings in Game 3 Saturday night at Staples Center. The Kings have been cold as ice against Brian Elliott this series, scoring just twice on a combined 67 shots on the Blues’ goaltender.

The Kings are in an offensive tangle, struggling not only to score, but develop any kind of constant threat or pressure to the Blues’ defensive corps.

If the Kings are to settle the nerves, they need to act early at in Game 3 Saturday night at Staples Center.

In the Kings’ previous 10 wins against the St. Louis Blues, they’ve recorded the first goal in each of those contests.

Hit ‘em early and often Saturday night at the Stape.

Fits into the pattern, no?

Square Dance

Anze Kopitar.

Are you here?

Puck drops in Downtown Los Angeles for Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals against the St. Louis Blues at Staples Center at 7:00PM PST Saturday night.

Episode 191 KingsCast TV: LAK-STL Game 2 WCQF RECAP – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

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No matter how favorable history may be, just don’t lean on it.

One bounce, one fidget is all it takes to swing momentum, which at this time of year, you know, can spread faster than a flame in open air.

It’s playoff hockey for the Kings, a thing that has become all too familiar with this organization as of late; the Kings now making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NHL‘s postseason tournament, the familiarity seemingly fitting the expectations.

*NEW KingsCast TV: Episode 189 – LA Kings lock up 5th in the West

The Kings’ Western Conference Quarterfinals opponent is familiar as well, one the Kings defeated in stunningly dominant fashion during last spring’s Stanley Cup Championship run, and one the Kings have, for the past two years as a whole, yes you said it – dominated.

It’s the St. Louis Blues for the Kings, who will play host to the start of the series, the first puck slated to be dropped Tuesday evening at the Scottrade Center in downtown St. Louis, Missouri.

Have your Number

Digits: It’s without a doubt that the Kings have been flirting with complete command over the St. Louis Blues as of late, and last season’s four-game sweep of the Blues in the Western Conference Semifinals is just the tip of it.

The Kings ousted the Blues from the playoffs last season in an absolute ruthless fashion. In their four straight wins, the Kings outscored St. Louis 15-6, sending the Blues’ young roster into a state of timid dysfunction from start to finish.

In all, the Kings have beat the St. Louis Blues eight consecutive times, dating back to March 22nd of 2012 when the Kings earned two points with a 1-0 shootout victory over St. Louis at Staples Center.

They’ve also beaten St. Louis in 10 of the last 11 games overall, the lone St. Louis victory coming in a 1-0 fashion on February 3rd, 2o12 at Scottrade Center.

This season, the Kings posted a 3-0 record against the St. Louis Blues, matching Missouri’s blue-notes two goals for their every one, outscoring the Blues 14-7 in their three contests between each other during the regular season.

Like it was Easy

Blues’ Plus

Two of the three Kings’ contests against the St. Louis Blues this season were played in Missouri at the Scottrade Center, the other in Downtown Los Angeles at Staples Center. All results favored the Kings, and at times, those results carried on.

The Kings’ first meeting against the Blues on February 11th ignited this roster just as soon as the season’s schedule started to grow legs. The Kings entered that contest with a sub-par, completely mediocre 3-5-2 record on the season.

After two goals from Jeff Carter, two assists from Vyacheslav Voynov, and a 21-save performance from Jonathan Bernier, the Kings were in business.

The Kings would pull off an 11-3-0 record after that win in St. Louis on February 11th, washing away the distaste of their 3-5-2 start, fueling the push that has landed them in the NHL playoffs for the fourth consecutive season.

That 11-3-0 aftermath included the Kings’ biggest comeback of the season, the Kings overcoming a three-goal deficit in defeating the St. Louis Blues 6-4 at Staples Center on March 5th.

What’s the Muzz?

Comeback City: The Kings, with two goals from Rookie defenseman Jake Muzzin and points from 10 players on the roster, overcome a slow start that saw head coach Darryl Sutter pull Jonathan Bernier from the game in favor of Jonathan Quick.

Jonathan Quick would make five saves during the 38:46 minutes he played in relief of Bernier, allowing just one goal.

The Kings, during that 38:46 minutes Jonathan Quick played, would match Quick’s save-total with goals, dropping five unanswered goals on the St. Louis Blues to run away with a stunning 6-4 victory.

The game-winner came off the stick of Jeff Carter, Anze Kopitar followed up with an insurance claim.

Cart Dart

Anzsurance

Cold but Bold: Since that game-closing goal on March 5th at Staples Center, Anze Kopitar has recorded just two goals for the Kings. That’s a 26 game span, and Kopitar’s in a scoring drought we’ve rarely seen the franchise’s forward trudge through.

But this is the playoffs.

Just as meaningless as Anze Kopitar‘s goal-drought is come Tuesday night in St. Louis, is the Kings’ recent string of overwhelming success against the St. Louis Blues.

That’s why they call the playoffs the second season. All prior happenings are wiped clean from the slate, it simply comes down to a race to four victories.

Quick to the Point

“We both start at 0-0. And we’re going to have to outwork them. They’ve got some big forwards, strong forwards, they go hard to the net. Strong on the back end, a couple skilled guys that can really create stuff on the power play, and obviously they’ve got great goaltending.” – Quick via LA Times

Don’t get caught Short

Puck drops for Game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals Tuesday at Scottrade Center against the St. Louis Blues at 5:00PM PST.

Episode 189 KingsCast TV: LA Kings lock up 5th in West – HERE
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

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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
Follow the blog on Twitter HERE
Get your Official KingsCast Apparel HERE
KingsCast Hockey Podcast on  —  Facebook  -  Twitter  -  Youtube

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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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Saturday night’s contest with the OC’s orange and black has prime-time written on it in more ways than one.

It trumps thoughts of Dodger Stadium from wherever you are to Chavez Ravine and back.

Don’t get swayed.

At this time last year, the Kings were already in the midst of their unseen and delightfully unexpected playoff run, a run to a Stanley Cup championship that wasn’t just a historic feat in the NHL, but in the world of sports all together.

Tonight marks the one-year date of Dustin Brown going short-circuit against the Vancouver Canucks in Game 2 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.

Maybe they didn’t see it coming

Look back at it

Look now, it’s Prime Time

The NHL will spotlight it’s attention on the league’s two clubs from Southern California Saturday, which is certainly a postseason precursor with both the Kings and Anaheim Ducks extremely well en rout to solidifying playoff positions. Anaheim has already clinched a postseason berth.

The Kings are as close as it comes if we’re going to talk mathematics.

Staples Center has the Kings’ 42nd contest of the season slated for an 8:00PM PST puck-drop Saturday night, which is unprecedented for hockey contests in Downtown Los Angeles.

This will be the first time, in the 20 possible seasons it could have happened since the Anaheim Ducks‘ franchise was inaugurated in 1993, that both the Kings and the Ducks will qualify for the postseason in the same year. 19 seasons if you delete the lockout that wiped out the entire 2005-’06 NHL season.

Denver Relations

Both clubs are coming off of appearances against the NHL‘s last-place Colorado Avalanche. The Anaheim Ducks were owned in every asset Wednesday night against Colorado, losing 4-1, right after former Anaheim goaltender Jean-Sebastian Giguere called out his current Avalanche teammates.

The Kings fared quite a bit better off against Colorado, but did allow the game a to get a bit too close for comfort. After pouncing on Sami Aittokallio early, a 20-year old rookie out of Finland making his first-career NHL start, the game slowed down rapidly.

When you’re playing a bad team, and the pace of the game slows down, it’s not a good thing.

The Kings played extra hockey against Colorado, only their sixth contest to extend into OT/SO this season. All three shooters for the Kings in the shootout frame (Jeff Carter, Dustin Brown and Anze Kopitar) scored to earn a full two points, and surrender one to a hapless team in the standings.

Well done, especially considering the last two shootouts the Kings went into – which were against the Minnesota Wild, and of course, the Anaheim Ducks. The Kings faltered terribly in both, with Jonathan Quick and Jonathan Bernier failing to stop one opponent shot respectively, surrendering three breakaway bids apiece.

Shootout Suave

The Kings were able to solve their shootout problems Thursday night against the Colorado Avalanche by evading any expectations from their goaltender. Opposition had scored on the Kings in the shootout on every shot in their past two show outs in a breakaway contest.

They had allowed goals on the opposition’s previous seven shootout attempts leading up to Thursday night.

This time around, the Kings took their notes to the net, quieting the Colorado Avalanche and the hot-mouthed Jean-Sebastian Giguere by doing it the only way best – scoring on every shot you take.

This time, they took back momentum. When you’re on home-ice, you’ve got the choice to take the first shot in the shootout. That can be the deal breaker.

Sometimes the first shot does it. Because then, the flood gates are cracked open.

Let’s call it the can-opener

See you Saturday

Big Date: Tonight will mark the Kings’ fourth and final meeting against the Anaheim Ducks this season, who they hold a 1-1-1 record against in the campaign’s previous three meetings. In the season series, each club has earned a full two points when playing in their home building.

If that trend continues to ride true, Downtown Los Angeles should be an attractive setting for tonight’s affair.

Jonathan Quick will get the call – his third straight start between the pipes.

Puck drops against the Anaheim Ducks at Staples Center at 8:00PM PST.

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