Angeles Analysis – Lots Of Types Of Big Wins

There are a lot of ways to define a “big win.”

Beating the Vegas Golden Knights 6-5 in their building, that was a big win.

Dominating the Washington Capitals, the NHL leader in points at the time, that was a big win.

On paper, you wouldn’t consider a 3-1 road victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, winner of just 20 games all season long, to be a big win. You’d probably have expected it. I kind of did.

Last night, though, considering the circumstances, it just felt like a big win, even if it was a game you’d expect the Kings to be on the upper hand of.

I don’t know. Just felt like two points the Kings absolutely needed and they picked them up. Despite a very strong opening period, the Kings didn’t make it easy on themselves over the final 40 minutes, relying on a 2-1 lead to hold up until the game’s final 19 seconds, when defenseman Joel Edmundson picked the empty net from distance to secure the victory.

I guess I just look at it like this. The Kings lost 5-1 in that building earlier this month. They were 0-1-1 against Chicago this season and you don’t need me to detail the difference in the team’s record at home versus on the road, or the team’s record against playoff teams versus non-playoff teams. Coming in off a loss in Minnesota, a game Jim Hiller detailed as “fine, but fine isn’t good enough”, the Chicago game is just one that the Kings needed to get two points to keep pace in the Pacific Division.

Ultimately, while it wasn’t the most astonishing win of the season, they did exactly that. In a vacuum, last night’s game maybe was not a big win. In the moment, though, it just felt like one. A win of relief. A win of necessity. A win that keeps the Kings moving forward in a postseason race that continues to remain tight. It was not a must-win game by any definition of the word. Kind of felt like it, though, didn’t it? And, the bottom line is, Kings got the job done against the Blackhawks. I liked Darcy Kuemper’s description of a “mature” victory. Kings remained patient, stuck to the script and are two points richer for their troubles.

I guess as I think back to the stretch run last season, I saw the Kings lose this game a couple times. Losses to Calgary, Anaheim and Minnesota over the last 10 games and the Kings finished five points behind Edmonton for the second seed in the division. Perhaps I’m reading too much into it and should just be happy to hold a friendlier press conference this time around in Illinois. There are still similar games to come. Or perhaps this team is just a little bit different. Might just be. Either way, good for the team to get that one yesterday.

handshakes with the boys >>> pic.twitter.com/PcE3jHpq2S

— LA Kings (@LAKings) March 21, 2025

This is something I’ve talked about a few times now, but as I look at the schedule, it really feels like the next 11 days will be so important in deciding what the Kings are fighting for in April. The Kings play seven games in 11 days. Six of those games are at home and four of those games are against current playoff teams. It’s a massive stretch of games in a very compact window and with that comes several challenges. I wouldn’t expect the Kings to practice in that time likely more than once. Two back-to-back sets are included in that mix, beginning with an afternoon/evening set tomorrow and Sunday. Each games means so much, with everything still on the line. The division title is within reach. So is the second seed and home-ice advantage in Round 1. Lots to play for.

By end of day on April 1, the Golden Knights, Oilers and Kings will all have played the same number of games in the standings and all three teams will have eight games remaining. April 1 is a head-to-head matchup between Vegas and Edmonton, which could have some pretty large ramifications for both teams and the Kings. The final eight games has two games between Los Angeles and Edmonton, one in each market. Depending on the next 11 days, those games could determine whether or not Game 1 is played in California or Alberta. Might not, but certainly could.

Tis the season, Insiders, when we analyze how the standings move after each and every game. As the Kings finished last night, Edmonton was still in action. As was Vegas. The Oilers came from behind to earn a point without Leon Draisaitl and with Connor McDavid unable to finish the game. Just the one point, though and both are not expected to play tomorrow against Seattle. Vegas blew out Boston on home ice, taking care of business as you’d expect them to. The Kings did the same in Chicago, by a narrower margin, but business nonetheless.

At the end of the day, as a wise man likes to say, the Kings are five points back of Vegas with one game in hand and two points behind Edmonton with two games in hand. In 11 days time, we won’t be using that term. It’ll be level pegging, eight games to go for all three clubs. Game on. A very important 11 days, though, before we get to that point.

For today, Kings did not hold a full team practice. It was a 1:45 AM arrival this morning in Los Angeles and that’s Pacific time. 3:45 AM body-clock time coming from Chicago. Not surprising to see the full team not take the ice when you consider the travel and the upcoming schedule. Though it was scheduled, publicly at least, upon arrival, I certainly had some expectation that we wouldn’t see the team out there in full. Turned out to be the case.

We actually won’t see the Kings in El Segundo until Tuesday of next week. 1 PM matinee game tomorrow, back-to-back game on Sunday, team off day on Monday and then a morning skate on Tuesday, before the Kings host the Rangers that evening. Assume the next practice day will be Wednesday, which will be a skate and fly situation to Colorado.

As things develop, will keep the updates coming. For today, enjoy the two points, because the days for enjoying will be limited going forward. Not because I’m not expecting the Kings to win those games, but because games are simply followed by more games. Tis the season.

Photo by Bill Smith/NHLI via Getty Images