The Anaheim Ducks host the St. Louis Blues tonight, and if the Ducks win, they will move into eighth place in the Western Conference. Why is that significant? Because it would — at least for now — put all five Pacific Division teams among the top eight in the West. Since the NHL went to its six-division format, there’s never been a season in which every team for a division made the playoffs. Late-season intra-division games will make it tough this season, but there’s a chance. Here’s how the Pacific Division teams stand right now. How will it turn out?
3. San Jose — 88 points
4. Kings — 85
5. Phoenix — 85
6. Chicago — 84
7. Dallas — 82
8. Calgary — 81
9. Anaheim — 79
Everyone but Anaheim will get in. Such a shame.
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ULVkingsfan Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@Capt Jam, Darn, I was really hoping we would sweep them in the first round. Oh well
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McDonalds Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@ULVkingsfan,
Sweep?! in know it’d be nice for bragging rights, but boy would i love to watch a 7 game grind
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RedBear Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:51 pm
@ULVkingsfan, Me too! I’d love to play the Ducks and take over the Pond with Kings fans in the playoffs.
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KingsGuy Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:15 pm
@RedBear, No doubt… Not to mentioned, it would be great for hockey in southern California if both teams could go far into the playoffs. Of course, as long as the Kings utterly decimate the ugly Ducks in a game a 7
(or just get past them, ha)
USHA#17 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:30 pm
@Capt Jam,
If the Kings end up with 105 point then why not let Anaheim win the final back to backs?
On second thought forget it, why give Vancouver a break?
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hip-check Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
@USHA#17, Im predicting 102 or 103 points and that includes winning one of those last two games…So no way do we get 15 without winning both those two….IMO….
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 9:17 pm
@hip-check,
Your opinion is totally right in my mind. I was trying to add a dash of sarcasm…win ‘em all then gift the Ducks…
Through I would never have believed it a week ago 97 maybe 98 points is necessary and 101 is doable.
Just don’t want to face Chicago or Vancouver in round 1
King John Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
@Capt Jam,
I’d actually like to see Anaheim in and have both L.A. area teams in the playoffs for the first time. Dallas can drop out this year. I think Nashville will make an effort to get in; not so sure if Calgary will stick.
So if the top six listed here stay the same and Nashville and Anaheim make it, then Dallas and Calgary would drop out. We’ll see who makes the drive.
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Watched a bit of NHL Live this morning and something very significant may have happened last night in the Dallas SJ game. Two SJ players (Heatly and Murray) had suspendable hits on Dallas players. Heatly’s was especially bad and it will almost certainly get suspended. The other important tid bit is that Heatly’s hit was on Erikson who might miss some games as a result.
That is not going to help SJ hold off the Kings for the division lead.
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RedBear Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:42 pm
@KC23, Heatly suspended for 2 games.
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VanKingsFan Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:43 pm
@KC23, Heatley got 2 games
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Stuart Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@KC23, I thought that hit looked like shoulder-to-shoulder… I don’t know if they suspend him for that, one. Besides, I thought that hit was by DMurray?
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Stuart Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:44 pm
@Stuart, I stand corrected!
LOL
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pr0cess Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:47 pm
@KC23, anyone have a link to the hit? the murry one?
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pr0cess Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
@KC23, Nm i found a yahoo thread that has all the hits
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Brutal-hits-in-Sharks-Stars-game-and-Steve-Ott-?urn=nhl-wp434
we need to be carefull of the stars i think they are a dirty team honestly
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KingsGuy Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:16 pm
@pr0cess, Why do you think TM plays Westgarth…
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BluLiner Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@KC23, Heatley’s cheapshot on Ott is shown on NHL.com
(not that I feel very sorry for Ott, also a cheapshot artist)
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:33 pm
@BluLiner,
Ott proably deserved it.
See him cross check Doughty’s head when Doughty was down and then skate away from Clifford as fast as he could?
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408kingsfan Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
@USHA#17, Skating away from Clifford as fast as he could was the smartest move he’s ever made
vplaza Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:09 am
@KC23,
This will have an impact on the Sharks down the stretch. The only important thing is that the Kings take care of business against the division and things will be fine. If they decide to take some nights off and forget how they’ve played in the last 10 games, things can change quickly.
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All 5 might make it Columbus is out. Minnesota is slipping. Calgary has played too many games (teams behind have many games in hand). That leaves Nashville and Anaheim for the last spot. Anaheim has a game in hand on the Preds. As for all the division games late in the season, same goes for the other teams. Nashville will have games against Detroit. Calgary against Vancouver, etc.
Not that I’m pulling for the ducks, I just like the potential of some of the match ups with all 5 Pacific division teams in.
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:02 pm
@2hitnik, Calgary won’t make it. They’re hanging on to eighth place with two games out-of-hand, and they have a back-to-back with anaheim and then with us on Sunday/Monday. If the schmucks do their job, we’ll face a tired calgary team, and have the chance to be the team that throttles their playoff hopes.
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Jay Go LA Kings Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
@Bill M., I agree that Calgary won’t make it & that opens the door for either the Quaks or Preds
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Capt Jam Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:20 pm
@Jay Go LA Kings,
I think CAL gets in bc they play in an easier division and have 4 games total left with EDM and COL.
Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:47 pm
@Jay Go LA Kings, Calgary only has ten games remaining, a possible 20 points. They need 14 to get to 95. They need to go 7-3 to have a stab at eighth. sure they have 4 games against COL/EDM, but they have 4 games against the pacific, and a game against VAN, plus a game against St Louis. That’s 3 really tough games, 3 50/50 games, and 4 pushovers. They need to upset a superior team in order to have any breathing room in the 50/50 games.
KC23 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@2hitnik, In analyzing the remainder of game each of the teams have. Looks like Calgary is out. Mostly because of how few games they have left. Ducks and Preds is a tough call. Ducks have it brutal with 3 against the Kings, 2 against the Sharks, couple with Calgary.
Should be an interesting last couple of weeks.
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:44 pm
@2hitnik,
Question is which team will physically punish Vancouver more, Nashville or Anaheim?
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jess Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 6:19 pm
@USHA#17, that is the question of the day
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luc20rules Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
@2hitnik, The only reason I think it would be good for the Kings if the Duck squeak in is the non-travel the Kings would enjoy if they faced the Ducks. The Ducks are a completely different team that upset many top seeds in the past playoffs, but wouldn’t it be great to have them bump Vancouver from the playoffs and have a travel free 2nd round matchup?
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Dominick Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 12:05 am
@luc20rules,
From your lips to Gods ears.
I keep telling everybody I want the Ducks. Not only for the exact reasons you’ve mentioned, but because that is an untested rivalry that would do wonders for Kings hockey in Southern California, and ticket sales at Staples, if we succeed.
I also happen to believe we could take them. Better defense, better goaltending(not even close, with Hiller, and he’s out), better scoring depth, better overall depth, and we would have home ice advantage.
Why would you not crave that match up? Would be the best thing ever for the Kings, to see the Ducks in the playoffs. I say Go get’em Ducks, do some damage, and we’ll be waiting for ya.
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The only reason I would want all 5 PAC teams is travel! The amount of rest we would be able to keep for the later rounds will be crucial.
sweep the ducks in rd 1 and 6 games in sj rd 2.
then finish off VAN in the conference finals. ALL WEST COAST TEAMS
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KC23 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:04 pm
@Jeremy, I got a feeling the Kings will be playing the Yotes in the first round. Vancouver in the 2nd round and Detroit for the conference finals.
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:06 pm
@KC23, funny, my prediction goes the other way, Yotes (although I’d rather see dallas), then Detroit, and Vancouver for the conference.
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luc20rules Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
@Bill M., Not that I fear any team with the Kings playing as well as they are, but Phx, Calgary, and Vanc. are teams I think atleast statistically are teams to avoid. That said with Penner, Poni, Mitchell, and Martinez/Drewiske have changed the size of the Kings, I think we will wear out most Ds in a long series.
Capt Jam Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
@KC23,
I don’t see DET having the goaltending to get past the first round unless they were to play COL or EDM. LOL.
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Capt Jam Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
@Jeremy,
Not that I care one way or the other, but I tend to think the path to the finals is easier for the Kings if there are fewer Pac Div teams in it. Our division is easily the most competitive in the NHL and probably all of pro sports.
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@Capt Jam, Once in the playoffs, pacific division teams will cancel each other out pretty quickly if all of them make it. Hopefully we are not one, which will clear the path for us.
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That is not going to sit well with Heatley’s upper management, coaches and teammates I bet. Sharks have had trouble with the Wild (next game), but not the Blues. This led me to check out the Shark’s record Vs the teams they have left in the season.
Kings will have to win both games against the Sharks to win the division imho. The Sharks have no problem with the Yotes and have 3 games left to play with them. They have had trouble with the Ducks though and they have 2 more left with them.
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Kostamojen Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:22 pm
@KC23, I’ll be cheering my lungs out from section 117 at the Kings/Sharks game on March 24. A win in that game would certainly increase our chances to lead the Pacific Division. Go Kings!
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Capt Jam Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:30 pm
@KC23,
We’re 2-1 vs ANA so far including a win in their barn.
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San Jose has 8 of 10 games against Pacific Division foes. Tough schedule.
Kings have 7 of 11. 3 against the Ducks
Phoenix has 5 of 10. (and Vanc. and Chicago)
Dallas has 5 of 11. (and Philly and Nashville)
The Ducks have 7 of 12 (and Calgary, Chicago and Nash.)
It will be tough to get all 5 teams in unless there are a lot of ties between the 5 teams.
the Ducks look like the odd man out.
But San Jose will have trouble keeping the number one spot. soooooooo GKG!!!
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BluLiner Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@BluLiner, Sorry, this is all after tomorrow’s games.
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KingsFan in OC Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:03 pm
@BluLiner, Kind of interesting that the ability of the Ducks to make the playoffs might very well come down to the last two games of the season we play against them. I have always been of the thinking that it would be great to meet them in the playoffs. However, the next best thing would be if we were the ones to destroy their chances of making the playoffs. That would be sweet!
They are on the bubble and probably will be for the remaining games so it could come down to us eliminating them on April 8th and 9th.
GO KINGS!!!
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USHA#17 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:47 pm
@KingsFan in OC,
Problem is that the Ducks might make a mighty tasty table for Vancouver.
Which team will hit them harder, Ducks, Flames or Preds?
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BluLiner Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 6:35 pm
@USHA#17, Flames and Kiprosoff would be tough on them.
Even if the ducks get in, we won’t see them in the first round. They’ll get in as a seven or eight seed, which means they’ll see Vancouver or Detroit first.
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I said 3. LA, SJ, and either Dal or Phx. Due to the fact that the Pacific play so many division games here in the last part of the year it just doesnt seem probable to me that more than that make it. Maybe 4 but like i said Im sticking with 3. The Ducks SUCK and will not make the playoffs, and i see either Dal or Phx floundering the rest of the year and droping down the standings.
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Anything can happen, straight up. I don’t think with the way we’re playing that we’ll slip much, but I agree that we would have to win both games vs. San Jose and lose no more than 3 of the rest of our games to take division. That in itself would be cause for celebration, if only to see a new banner hanging at Staples. But PHX is still winning pretty consistently, DAL is no slouch, and ANA has just as many regulation wins as we do. As much as I hate them, you can’t count them out with the like of Fairy, Salami, G-Laugh…even Lubo is red hot and is having arguably the best season of his career.
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Dilapidus Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:35 pm
@Datacloud, “Fairy, Salami, G-Laugh..” Nearly spit out my drink. Good stuff.
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Interesting. if Kopi can finish strong to get over the PPG mark this year, and crank it up to the 90-100 range playing with Penner all next year, he’ll catapult up into the top ten all-time on the kings scoring list, probably settling just behind either Mike Murphy or our good friend Jim Fox.
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
@Bill M., Oops, sorry looking at the wrong chart. Kopi needs exactly 100 points to catch Murphy for 11th. After that is Simmer and then Fox.
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Why would inter-division games be a hinderance to getting Pacific teams into the playoffs? We all know that those games will go to OT and be 3 point games.
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Capt Jam Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
@Brian,
Do you mean inter- or intra-division? It sounds like you mean intra from your second sentence.
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Okay, who’s the Tool that put only one?
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:28 pm
@GallyHoo, clearly he means that the pacific division will all beat the crap each other and be unable to keep up with points in the conference, meaning that only the division winner gets in. I don’t think that will happen, but it is a possible scenario. How about we just go ahead and take the division lead off the guppies hands, just in case?
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Wow, just looked at Chicago’s remaining games. They have 3 against Detroit, Lightning, Habs, Boston, Dallas. That is really tough.
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Bill M. Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 4:49 pm
@KC23, ouch that is bad. i guess we can expect them to drop a couple.
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tuan jim Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 2:13 am
@KC23,
Just let them face someone ELSE in the opening round.
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Neuwirth pretty lame for Caps, in case anybody cares….he keeps going down when he should make himself large and cut down the angle….guess I’m just used to seeing good technique
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Of course, the big wildcard will be the last two games of the season…back-to-back nights, they play the Kings twice. I see them needing both wins and the Kings having two chances to spoil their run.
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What's the frequency, Kenneth? Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 5:52 pm
“They” being the schmucks.
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I hope we get in
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Who voted 1?
Great win last night.
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jess Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
@kevin from toronto, probably one of those well educated ducks fans
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I think if the last game with the Ducks is meaningless we should forget about the rivals and rest key players who need a game off before the playoffs. Is it legal? For example if Ducks win and make the playoffs and Flames stay out because of it can they protest? I am a Kings fun since purple and gold days and allways wanted a clear answer to this question but never found it. Over the years I see teams that clinched their desired spot have more than usual numbers of “injured” players. Correct me if I am wrong but for sure the main goaltender needs a rest before the playoffs. The only thing I dread about if Ducks make the playoff is listening to BRIAN HAYWARD’s comments. Is he annoying or it’s just me?
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CB14 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
@DrA, Hayward’s the reason they created the “Mute” button. I can’t stand that guy. The other guy is OK, but Hayward is real bad.
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puck73 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 10:21 pm
@CB14, Actually, the mute button, along with the remote control button was invented back in the early sevrnties and was used mostly to silence Howard Cossell.
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CB14 Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 10:37 pm
@puck73, Good to know. I wasn’t alive back then (I’m only 28), but wasn’t Cosell considered one of the best in the business? Not sure, never heard him call a game, just heard what other people have said about him.
@DrA, Hayward is one of the many great reasons to hate the ducks. Just looking at him gives me a headache. One of the whiniest hacks to ever pick up a mic. Even more so than Celine Dion. With terms like “ladies tees” “wing boards” and “sin bin” he doesn’t just let you watch the game, he let’s you watch it while simulating dog crap is being smeared in your face.
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DrA Reply:
March 16th, 2011 at 11:42 pm
@Ian, and words “for coach Randy Carlyle” thousand times.
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vplaza Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:07 am
@Ian,
Definitely one reason to turn off the sound when I happen to change the channel to a Quacks game while browsing.
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I wish ANA would make it but I can’t see CGY losing out to a team with no goaltending, defence, coaching, history, fans, or chemistry.
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kingsxstevenxkings Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 3:08 am
@jonsey,
They have a well documented history..displayed by Joshua Jackson hahaha… unfortunately they also have a Cup
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jonsey Reply:
March 17th, 2011 at 11:37 am
@kingsxstevenxkings, That is unfortunate. We need to get Bob Miller a cup.
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