As usual, the Western Conference playoff race is tight, and figures to remain so for the rest of the season. The Kings come out of the All-Star break in seventh place, six points behind sixth-place Chicago and six points ahead of 12th-place Phoenix. For sake of argument, we’ll say Detroit, Vancouver, San Jose, St. Louis and Chicago are all playoff teams, and Nashville is in a strong position as well. That leaves two spots for the Kings, Minnesota, Colorado, Dallas, Calgary and Phoenix to fight for, and then there’s Anaheim, which would have to maintain its current torrid pace in order to get back in the picture.
Who has the advantage? The Kings have only 12 home games remaining, and 20 road games. That’s rough. The Kings have often played better on the road than at home, but that’s tough to sustain. In terms of home/road split, Minnesota and Calgary have the advantage. Here’s the breakdown of the conference, with points and home/road games remaining, including the number of games remaining against the Kings…
1. Detroit — 67 points in 50 games
Games left: 18 home (1 vs. Kings), 14 road (1 vs. Kings)
2. Vancouver — 64 points in 49 games
Games left: 18 home (1 vs. Kings), 15 road
3. San Jose — 60 points in 47 games
Games left: 16 home (1 vs. Kings), 19 road (2 vs. Kings)
4. St. Louis — 65 points in 49 games
Games left: 13 home (1 vs. Kings), 20 road (1 vs. Kings)
5. Nashville — 64 points in 50 games
Games left: 15 home (2 vs. Kings), 17 road (1 vs. Kings)
6. Chicago — 64 points in 50 games
Games left: 12 home (1 vs. Kings), 20 road (1 vs. Kings)
7. Kings — 58 points in 50 games
Games left: 12 home, 20 road
8. Minnesota — 55 points in 49 games
Games left: 19 home (2 vs. Kings), 14 road
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9. Colorado — 54 points in 51 games
Games left: 15 home (1 vs. Kings), 16 road
10. Dallas — 52 points in 48 games
Games left: 16 home (1 vs. Kings), 18 road
11. Calgary — 52 points in 50 games
Games left: 19 home (1 vs. Kings), 13 road (1 vs. Kings)
12. Phoenix — 52 points in 50 games
Games left: 18 home (1 vs. Kings), 14 road (1 vs. Kings)
13. Anaheim — 43 points in 48 games
Games left: 15 home (1 vs. Kings), 19 road (1 vs. Kings)
14. Edmonton — 41 points in 49 games
Games left: 18 home (1 vs. Kings), 15 road (1 vs. Kings)
15. Columbus — 32 points in 49 games
Games left: 17 home (1 vs. Kings), 16 road (1 vs. Kings)
its going to be tough anywhere we travel or whoever we host………Kings get on your horse and lets get this going in the W colunm.
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Duncanz Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 12:38 am
@Harty,
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For quite a while I have believed that the teams that play the best over the last 20 games of the season have the advantage going into the playoffs. that being said, the Kings have a chance to climb over a team or two and possibly end with a 5th or 6th seeding. At their current, not so torrent, pace they can conceivably move ahead of a team or two.
The question really is whether or not they can improve over their recent play since Sutter was hired? I think they can. I’m hoping that the time off will really help Kopi, Richards and Mitchell to ramp it up for the stretch run. Once they are in the playoffs, and if they have turned it up a notch they are quite capable of winning a series or two.
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spidey35 Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
@Michael J., I have felt the same way about whoever is playing the best going into the playoffs, has a real good chance of going far. It seems that if you are fighting to stay alive or get into the playoff mix, the team as a whole is already playing, “playoff” hockey. Hopefully the Kings are in the mix and not fighting to get in.
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Helvetica Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@Michael J., In terms of points, they have been playing VERY well. While their record hasn’t been phenomenal, they’ve nabbed a bunch of single points in their over time losses. If they continue to play at this point pace, it’s entirely possible they could take over the pacific division. In fact, i’d wager that, if they gain enough points to jump into 5th-6th, then they will likely claim the division and wind up with the 3rd seed. So, it’s sort of all or nothing down the stretch. Either they play well, but only good enough for 7-8th, or they play really well and land in 3rd. Thats my bet.
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I think Chicago could drop out. Besides having to play St. Louis, Detroit and Nasville a bunch of times they also got the Rangers twice … their schedule is nasty. Nashville’s schedule just as bad in terms of quality opponets.
I expect Chicago and Nashville not to move up and one of them might just fall off. I pick Chicago to fall off because of they just don’t have the defense or goal tending Nashville has.
Not sold on SJ at all either, but they have a strong lead in the division that will be nearly impossible for the King’s to over come (because of games in hand, and King’s quanity of road games left). I think SJ will likely lose in the 1st or 2nd round regardless.
You don’t want to end up 8th because whoever is 8th will be losing to Detroit in the first round. They look tough with Howard going well. Vancouver will likely be 2nd seed and I think the King’s will end up 7th and have them in the first round. I like our chances against them.
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If the morning skate at the same building they play the actual game and the ice is the reason why they play better on the road, then it won’t be that tough for them after all.
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maybe the kings should follow the blackhawks plan so they can have an easier time of making the playoffs and hopefully going all the way to win the SC.
The Great One even is impressed by their “rebuild” after winning the SC.
http://espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/story/_/id/7506923/wayne-gretzky-credits-chicago-blackhawks-fast-retool-title
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Beat somebody,anybody @ hm in the conf. in regulation.How ’bout the juggernaut otherwise known as the Columbus Blue Jackets.18 of 28 in Feb,24 of 36 in March/Apr,that’s 100 points.About 94-98 looks more realistic and should be enough.
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Jayrew Reply:
January 27th, 2012 at 9:47 am
@Paul M. Hedberg, What?
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I wish the kings were a top 4 team! I had high hopes this would be the year.
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Dominick Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 3:27 pm
@tornado12, With the scoring problems being addressed now, they still might be. Improvements still up int the air at the moment, but with Sutter, the Kings are trying to address the issue.
Also, the NHL has an advanced stats site called timeonice.com. They post the stats, but finding them can be confusing. I found a Kingsfan from New York who posts these stats for Kingsfans who wants to look at these official stats, and he gives comentary on a game by game basis.
This might help you with fenwick, and you can post questions and comments if you need help breaking it down. So far I’m the only one talking
but I’d be glad to answer any questions on the content http://theannoyingpeasant.com/
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tornado12 Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
@Dominick, I do feel confident they are on the right track. I would like to see consistency for a whole season, but hey, if they end up winning their last game of the season (moneyball), I will have no complaints.
thx for the info as well. are the Kings looking better now in regards to the possession stats, etc? how relevant are those stats? are the leaders in those stats, the ones leading the league in points, which we all know is the only stat that counts (in the regular season)
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Dominick Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
@tornado12, Yes, but for a variety of reasons. Boston isn’t just a +70 in goal differential alone. They don’t just play defense, and they don’t just have a better than average shooting percentage. They flat out Dominate on the ice. Keeping track of how the Kings use their ice time is extremely important in knowing how well their playing versus poeples perception.
In a way, they only have to worry about San Jose and Dallas, as they play for the third seed…and they both have more road games than home games left. Phoenix, it seems, is least likely to be a problem, but maybe they have the best “statistical” chance. Of course, we all know about statistics versus reality.
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Off Topic,
Gary Bettman is on NHL LIVE looking at that blonde commentator as if wondering what color panties she’s wearing. That little man gives me the creeps..BBRRR
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All that matters is that we get in healthy, have to find a way to turn home games into an advantage.
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Hahaha. Good thing ASG is held in Ottawa. If it’s in Los Angels, those mascots would be suffering with dehydration or heat exhaustion.
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I think the Kings’ best chance of making it far in the playoffs is if they catch San Jose and win the Division. It looks like they’ll be playing any of the seeds 1-3 otherwise. I don’t want them to play Vancouver, Detroit or San Jose in the first round. As much as SJ and Vancouver are rival teams and it would make for a good rough series, I don’t know if I like their chances.
If the Kings don’t win the Pacific division, they can very easily remain in the #7 spot at the end of the season. If St. Louis wins their division and finishes in #2, that’s a very good matchup that I think favours the Kings. I know St. Louis has the regular season edge over the Kings, but the playoffs are an entirely different world. The Blues don’t have a lot of playoff experience and I can see the Kings winning that series.
In unrelated news, tickets for tonight’s All Star Fantasy draft are going for $1,000. Yes, $1,000.
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tornado12 Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 4:10 pm
@California Royalty, wow, what recession? im glad people have their priorities straight!
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I believe the key is if we can just seperate ourselves from 8-12 and join in on the top 7. Then we’d have a shot at the division and definantly give us some confidence come playoff time
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13 games vs. WC teams currently ahead of the Kings, pretty even split though (7 road, 6 at Staples). However, they play 8 of these games and 1 vs. the Bruins in just 20 days from 3/6 – 3/26:
On the road: Preds 3/6, Wings 3/9 (2nd of back to back), then the Hawks 3/11.
Kings return home where they play 5 of the next 6 games. Wings 3/13, Preds 3/17, Sharts 3/20, Blues 3/22, Bruins 3/24.
Then they face the Canucks at the beginning of a Western Canada swing (3/26).
This stretch will make or break their season.
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Jay GoLAKings Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 4:46 pm
@Niko, Very tough games in that March homestand.
The fight for the last two playoff spots will be the Kings, Minnesota, Colorado, Dallas, Calgary and Phoenix.
Who has the toughest road in the West? Dallas – 18 road games, where they are below 500.
Who has the advantage? Minnesota – 19 home games, where they are strong.
7. (94) Minnesota
8. (92) Kings
9. (90) Colorado
10. (88) Calgary
11. (86) Phoenix
12. (86) Dallas
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How is SJ still so many games behind?!
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1) SCORE MORE GOALS
2) bring back Heidi Androl
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tornado12 Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 4:40 pm
@Shuchuk, i cant decide which one is more important!
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WOW..Picked 3rd..Outstanding
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goldielocks Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 5:30 pm
@SLIM,
Smart choice!
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Quickie!!
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Simarosa Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@Who Know
Nice,very glad he went so high!
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Quick – 6th overall pick and 2nd goalie taken! Thomas was the first.
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All right – Quicker 2nd goalie picked!
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TheRussianKing Reply:
January 26th, 2012 at 5:31 pm
@KDinUT, I’m proud of him. He looked relieved to be picked early.
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Lol is Team Alfredson trying to lose on purpose? Blue team is stacked!
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quick gets some appreciation for once
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QUICK baby!
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Way to go Quickie!!! RESPECT!!!!!!!, Team Chara will have to get through Ludy,Quickie and Elliot. Tough draw. GQG
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Ooops, Lundy
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SJ, only having played 47 games to this point, actually hurts them…This league is so close and so physical and the toll it takes on the players is immeasurable…they have more games to play down the stretch just when you would fancy a rest
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Does an analysis of winning percentage of remaining games how anything interesting? Team-over-Team
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Expectations sure are down from where they were when the year began. If the Kings again end up somewhere 5-8 (which seems like the likeliest and perhaps most optimistic scenario), you gotta wonder if they are gonna be one and out again. Absent a major winning streak and division win, this year is more than likely going to go down as either sideways or backwards for the Kings. I am tired of it. Adios, DL.
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Big three games against Nashville. We win those in regulation we will for sure catch the preds.
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