Angeles Analysis – One Down

One down, Insiders.

We’ve talked ad nauseum about the final six games of the season. With a longer lens say two weeks ago, it was always there as an apparent safety net should things go awry. Now, coming off of four losses out of five games, it was perhaps a glimmer of hope, with six games against non-playoff teams to close out the season.

It’s obviously an external glimmer, and really not a glimmer that’s as bright as we think it is. Each game remaining on the schedule will present its own unique challenges, and we know the Kings aren’t a team to win by several goals all that often – of teams currently in a playoff position, only the Dallas Stars have fewer wins of 3+ goals than the Kings.

With a 2-1 victory yesterday over Columbus, last night was the first step towards making the most of those final six games and now, with the Blue Jackets in the rearview mirror, the final six has become the final five.

The Kings could not clinch a playoff spot yesterday. They couldn’t win all six games last night at Crypto.com Arena. They could only beat Columbus and in that regard, they found a way to get the job done.

The Blue Jackets could be deemed a high-event team. They rank inside the NHL’s bottom five in terms of most “allowed” categories at even strength. Goals allowed, shot attempts allowed, scoring chances allowed and high-danger chances allowed. All bottom five. They also, however, have exceeded their “for metrics”, ranking significantly higher in goals scored in most categories than their chances created would indicate. High event, in many ways.

Therefore, give the Kings credit for winning a 2-1 game last night. It wasn’t the prettiest win of the season, but in a lot of ways it was a Kings-style victory. A low-scoring, one-goal affair and that’s exactly how you’d expect the Kings to find a way to win coming off of a bad performance the game before. Todd McLellan talked after the game about how comfortable the Kings are in one-goal games and to that end, comfortable playing with a one-goal lead. That’s not to say they didn’t have a few nervy moments, because they surely did, but it shows how this team has been able to find a way in those types of situations this season. Another example last night.

McLellan noted that the Kings found their checking principles last night, after they were obviously not there against Colorado the game prior. Last night, the standout stat of the night was shots blocked. The Kings blocked 26 shots last night, which was their highest total since the 2017-18 season, per Bally Sports West. Checking means a lot of things, physicality means a lot of things, but especially at this time of the year, throw shot blocking right into the mix in both categories.

Defensemen Alex Edler, Matt Roy and Sean Durzi combined for 14 of those blocks alone, with Edler and Roy each earning one during the game-ending penalty kill, which helped to seal the two points for the Kings without allowing a shot on goal. Can’t allow shots on goal if they don’t get through, and that’s what the Kings thrived on last night.

Of the shots that did get through, it was another solid effort by Jonathan Quick, who allowed just one, flukey goal as he earned his 19th victory of the season. Speaking with Quick earlier in the season, he diminished the importance of statistics when it comes to evaluating goaltenders. His play in recent games, in my opinion, has spoken to why. His save percentage hasn’t always reflected his play, but it’s the saves that you can’t separate by a number that have defined his success. It’s just felt like when the Kings have needed a big save in a tight game, Quick has always seemed to make it. When you get to this point of the season, and you’re really taking things game-by-game, the importance there is magnified.

With McLellan indicating that he’d like to see one goaltender get hot at this point in the season and command the bulk of the starts down the stretch, Quick took the first test last night and passed. When the Kings needed a win most, it should be no surprise to see the playoff-tested Quick answer the call.

Speaking of contributing veterans, Dustin Brown made it three points (1-2-3) from three games played since he returned from injured reserve. Brown netted the game-opening goal last night, as he kept it himself on a 2-on-1 rush and snapped his wrist shot a foot of the ice on the blocker side and in. A quick release with an accurate shot, certainly not the first time we’ve seen Brown right on target in that situation. While he wasn’t quite himself at times during the middle of the season, the Kings have controlled 64 percent of shot attempts with number 23 on the ice since he’s returned, a number bested only by 66 percent of scoring chances. Brown has been on the ice for a 5-on-5 goal in each game since his return, and his combination with Blake Lizotte and Alex Iafallo has formed an effective third line, something the Kings have sought for pretty much the entirety of the season. Not a line you would have forecasted during training camp, but seriously, what has gone according to plan from training camp? Good adjustment made by the coaching staff to find that chemistry and good on those three players for impacting games immediately after being put together.

The Kings are off today, as the team will be careful to manage energy levels at this time of the season, with two days in between consecutive games a welcomed sign. We’ll see the group back on the ice tomorrow, in preparation for Anaheim on Tuesday at Honda Center. The Ducks, who are in action today against Columbus, have won just twice from their last 18 games entering today, but the rivalry runs deeper than wins and losses. Anaheim will be highly motivated to put a dent in the playoff hopes of the Kings, a tough matchup under any conditions.

For those who celebrate, Happy Easter! For those who don’t Happy Sunday! Enjoy the day, Insiders, and talk soon.