Current standing drives emotion more than Cup rematch

Yesterday, Alec Martinez returned to the lineup after having missed 19 games. Today, he’ll be the target of scorn from Rangers fans with any semblance of a memory.

“Honestly, I haven’t even thought about that. But if they [jeer me], so be it. That’s just part of the game,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, I’m not thinking about anything like that. This is a new year, we have a new task at hand and that’s in the past.”

It certainly is. Martinez’s Stanley Cup clinching goal came nine months and 11 days ago, meaning that the implications for tonight’s Kings (35-23-14) game against the New York Rangers (46-18-7) align towards postseason aspirations rather than any lingering emotion from last June’s playoff series.

“I don’t think 70-something games later has anything to do with last year,” Darryl Sutter said. “They’re trying to win a President’s Trophy and we’re trying to make the playoffs.”

So, while there will be a national television audience and heightened emotions consistent with late March action, it’s only because both teams have clear and tangible results to play for.

“Well, we’re going to play with a lot of emotion. I’m sure they will, too,” Drew Doughty said. “I’m sure what happened last year is still not sitting well with them, but we need wins and we’re going to play with all the desire in the world and do everything we can to get two points. “

While the boos may be slightly more vociferous, it will be no different from when the Kings take the ice in Uniondale, St. Paul, and in Chicago.

“I’d definitely say not just tonight, but every game here on out is going to be revved up emotionally,” Martinez said.

The Kings scored two quick first period goals but dropped a 4-3 game to New York on January 8 as part of a 7-11-7 stretch between early December and early February. The season has been bookended by strings of quality results, but if Los Angeles is to gain ground in the playoff race, they’re going to need wins on this late season trek. Fellow playoff hopefuls Minnesota (at the Islanders) and Winnipeg (at Vancouver) will also be playing on the second night of a back-to-back.

“We got our rest. Every team plays back-to-backs,” Justin Williams said. “When the Rangers came, I think they played back-to-back. It obviously was important getting a win in New Jersey, it seems like every game from here on in is going to be the most important game of the year, and tonight is that.”

Dustin Brown, on Andrej Sekera scoring his first goal as a King last night:
I think when you come to a new team, you probably want to get that out of the way as soon as you can just to get it out of the way. Always getting one goal helps, regardless of if you’re a new guy or a guy who hasn’t scored in a while. It’s always good to see a guy like him who contributes in a lot of other different facets of the game get rewarded.

Brown, on returning to Madison Square Garden:
Obviously being here last year in the finals, you always remember the buildings and probably the biggest thing is they’re right at the top of the East, so it’s a big challenge. At the end of the day, we need points.

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