Angeles Analysis – 3-0-0 + The Arvidsson Impact

3-0-0.

The Kings have had homestands of 2-1-0. They had a 1-0-0 in there as well, so I suppose there technically has been an undefeated homestand this season. But, on multi-game homestands in Los Angeles, the Kings had not had a perfect one until last night, when they scored 25 seconds into overtime to seal the second point of the game, giving them six of a possible six across the three games. The finale required a little bit longer than the scheduled 60 minutes, but not all that much longer, as defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov scored the sixth fastest overtime game-winning goal in franchise history to seal a pretty impressive 4-3 victory over red-hot Tampa Bay.

With the win yesterday, the Kings are now 9-2-1 at home since the NHL All-Star Break. For a team that won just 8 of 23 games before the break at Crypto.com Arena, they’ve found themselves nearly unbeatable since, with 9 wins from their last 12 played. Defenseman Mikey Anderson spoke last night about bringing the simple, smart, hard and heavy game that has been established on the road back onto home ice. Jim Hiller pointed to getting on a bit of a run and when you string a few together, even if they aren’t all gems, you start to feel yourself a bit. The Kings are certainly doing that right now, perhaps more so than they have all season long.

For the most part, players and coaches have insisted that nothing has drastically changed. It’s little things. In reality, I don’t think a ton has, save for the execution of what Anderson talked about. That is a big change at home, but not a big change from what we saw earlier in the season. The Kings played this level of hockey on the road in October, November and December, committing to a certain style of play that led to an 11-0-0 record out of the gates. When Hiller took over, he spoke about getting the team’s mindset and identity back to what it was. That mindset and identity was always in there, but rarely did it shine through at home. It’s starting to now, and we’re seeing the results via the wins and losses.

Picture also that this team has still not played a single game with every player who was forecasted to be in the lineup on Opening Night. Among the skaters, almost everyone is back now, with only Carl Grundstrom in waiting in the wings. Grundstrom is now skating on his own, nearing a return to action, even if it’s not right around the corner. In first getting Anderson and forward Adrian Kempe back, then forward Viktor Arvidsson, we’re starting to see the complete picture come into focus. With Arvidsson in the lineup, the Kings are 6-0-0. Not too shabby.

The ultimate version of the Kings always included Arvidsson. It’s not about one player, but it’s been amazing to see how having him available seemingly slots everyone in place, while spreading the wealth amongst a forward group that has weaved in and out of having three consistent lines all season long. With Arvidsson in, they have that defined, with a variety of different options for what the pairings wind up being.

Arvidsson himself has four points (1-3-4) from six games played, with a +4 rating. That’s obviously good. Others have seemingly been more productive with him in the lineup as well.

In the six games that Arvidsson has played, each member of the top line is over a point-per-game. Forward Adrian Kempe leads the way with eight points (3-5-8), while Anze Kopitar has seven (3-4-7) and Quinton Byfield has six (2-4-6). I believe the saying is that many hands make for light work. Having more offensive weapons is beneficial to everyone, even the guys who were productive without the help.

Perhaps no player has benefitted more, however, than forward Pierre-Luc Dubois, who is also a point-per-game with Arvidsson in the lineup, with six points (2-4-6) of his own. There’s been a revolving door of wingers this season alongside Dubois and Alex Laferriere and having Arvidsson in gives him a bonafide top-six winger in one of two ways. Arvidsson himself can play there, as he has over the last two games, and that line has been quite good. Or, it moves someone else to that line, whether it be Quinton Byfield or Adrian Kempe, who have also meshed with Dubois. With that line going, the top line producing, and the second line being arguably the team’s most consistent all season long, the Kings finally have their desired balance, with a hard-nosed and honest player in Grundstrom on his way to add further stability lower in the lineup.

So, the personnel generally feels pretty stable here, with regular players now back from injury. The home form seems to have been sorted out, which is a pretty good sign as well. Now, the team hits the road to begin a pretty crucial four-game trip.

We’ll learn a lot about what the Kings will need in the month of April once we return from this trip. Regardless of the record in Western Canada, the Kings will be in a playoff battle once they return. The question will be, though, will it be a battle for home-ice advantage in Round 1, a battle for a Pacific Division playoff berth compared to a wild card spot, or simply a battle for their playoff lives. In that time, each of the teams within 10 points of the Kings in either direction plays somewhere between three and five games, bringing everyone down to single-digit games remaining by the time the trip commences. Even in the best of times, the Kings won’t be able to clinch a spot on this trip and even in the worst of times, they won’t play themselves out of the postseason. However, after these four games, we should know which battle(s) the Kings are taking part in, which sets the stage for a final eight games all played within the state of California.

Kings play at 6 PM tomorrow, an earlier than usual puck drop. No morning skate is expected in Vancouver, so we’ll see how things look for tomorrow’s game when the team hits the ice at Rogers Arena for warmups. Not a ton of options available, so expecting status quo……until it isn’t. Big one against the division leaders to start a big trip, with playoff clarity on the line.