March of the West, Day 5

An interesting development yesterday, as the Kings actually moved back into fourth place in the Western Conference without playing a game. It’s been that kind of week…

San Jose 3, Chicago 2: LOSS. The Sharks pulled four points clear of the Kings, and now each team has played 37 games.

Anaheim 4, Colorado 2: LOSS. The Ducks are still 10 points behind the Kings, with one game in hand. The Avalanche is one point ahead of the Kings in the conference standings, and the Kings now have two games in hand over Colorado.

Vancouver 4, Nashville 1: WIN. Here’s the kicker. Because the Predators lost, the Kings and Predators both have 47 points in 37 games. They also each have 22 wins. The complicated third tie gets thrown out until the teams have played a team in Nashville, so it goes to goal difference. The Kings are plus-3 while Nashville is plus-2. So the Kings go back into fourth place.

That puts the Kings’ “break record,” in my estimation, at 9-8. Tonight’s games are Edmonton at Minnesota, Chicago at Detroit, Columbus at Dallas, Anaheim at Phoenix, St. Louis at Calgary. Kings rooting interests, in my opinion, are Edmonton, Chicago, Columbus, Anaheim and St. Louis.

If the Ducks beat Phoenix, even in overtime or a shootout, the Kings will come back from their break in fourth place in the Western Conference, albeit in a very tight race.