Angeles Analysis – Not All 2-1 Overtime Losses Are Built The Same

If they were to remake Groundhog Day, but center it around the 2025-26 LA Kings season, odds are that Bill Murray would be watching a whole lotta 2-1 hockey games that end in overtime.

As we’ve all watched the LA Kings this season, 2-1 in overtime feels like a familiar scoreline.

Win or lose, we have certainly seen 2-1 in overtime.

If you looked at yesterday’s boxscore without watching the game, you might feel that very little has changed. Bill Murray was in the stands, watching the Kings defend their way into overtime. And that’s understandable. When you see 2-1 in overtime enough, the feeling, game-to-game, starts to blend together.

If you did watch the game, though, I don’t think you could come to that conclusion. That game wasn’t a part of the same movie.

There was a time when 2-1 games were disappointing because it felt like the Kings were playing them not to lose. 2-1 in overtime means 1-1 in regulation and there have been too many times this season when it felt like the Kings were content at keeping the game 1-1, so as not to risk losing the game in regulation. Last night, it felt like the Kings were playing to win the entire way through. Even at 0-0 and 1-1, tie games, with a ton on the line in the third period, this wasn’t the sit back and defend Kings. The gas tank was far from full, considering the schedule, but the Kings played to attack, they played to try and win the game, not just prevent losing it. I thought that it was pretty noticeable.

Yesterday’s game in Boston was arguably the most intense game the Kings have played this season. Felt like a playoff game in many ways and the players I spoke with during and after the game agreed with that assessment. One of those games where it felt like every inch of the ice was contested and any space you got was earned. One of the more physical tests the Kings have had and they met that challenge.

For a team on the second half of a back-to-back and the back end of a three-in-four set, across three time zones, going down 1-0, as little as that sounds, might’ve broken this team earlier in the season. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but how often have we seen goals against stacked on goals against, where zero became two like that? Felt like it happened too frequently. The beauty of last night is we also saw it the game before in Columbus. The Kings saw a 2-0 lead become a 3-2 deficit. They instantly pushed back and responded with their best hockey of the day and nearly won in regulation. I thought there were some similar signs after Mason Lohrei’s goal in Boston too, as the Kings dug in and fought to score, not stopping that approach when they tied the game.

While we’re beyond the point in the season where a point is a good result, it was a different point than we’ve seen so many times this season. There have been a lot of disappointing……disa-point-ing……points on the Kings schedule when you look back to it. Even some 2-1 wins that were not particularly inspiring. Last night, though, was perhaps the hardest point the Kings have earned to date. They left Boston tied for the final wild card spot in the Western Conference and are still there this morning, after Nashville defeated Seattle in regulation. To get it, they had to deliver one of their most physical hockey games of the season and they met the challenge that Boston brought to offer.

It sets the stage for a pivotal three games in New York to close the trip. With three points out of four thus far, the Kings have some positive momentum rolling in their direction, maybe as much as we’ve seen this season. Results since the coaching change have been middling, with the Kings posting a 2-2-1 record in five games under Interim Head Coach D.J. Smith. They have played noticeably differently, though. The front-foot mentality, driven by speed, forechecking and physicality has been complimented with desperation and sacrifice. The Kings seemed to have finally turned the corner with the way they are attacking games and as they hit the Big Apple, they’ll need to keep running in that direction. In New York, that style of play has to translate into victories.

When you are outside of the playoff field, it feels like every game is essentially a must-win game, because you not only need to win but you need results around you. Especially this season, when there are 3-4 teams within reach to catch and 3-4 other teams pushing alongside the Kings, there are often too many results to watch for around the league. Almost impossible for every result to go in your favor, so if you don’t win, it just feels like you lost ground on someone. If you take care of your own business, it’s less of a worry, because it means you gained ground on someone. When you don’t, even collecting a point in overtime, it feels like you’re just losing ground somewhere, even though the Kings got some help in other areas yesterday.

It was always going to come down to New York to see how this roadtrip would be defined. The Kings have been a better team away from home than in Los Angeles this season and this is the final trip to play teams from the Eastern Conference. After a 3-in-4 against the Islanders, Devils and Rangers, the Kings will only have six road games remaining, with a pair of three-game trips left on the schedule. These are huge games. I truly believe that the Kings are starting to bring a level of consistency that we haven’t seen for long stretches this season, when it comes to their style of play, but this is a results-driven business. Have to translate an improved brand of hockey into wins. It’s been more fun to watch, I’ll say that with certainty. At the very least, that’s been enjoyable. Now, with three games in and around the city that never sleeps, the Kings will be faced with the task of turning a trip with a good start into a trip with an encouraging end as well.

I don’t know. Just feels a little bit more optimistic. I don’t know if an improved brand of hockey will lead to more points in the standings. Unsure if being more enjoyable to watch will mean better results. Thus far, in five games, it hasn’t. What it has been is more fun along the way. If the Kings have in fact turned a corner as it appears they might have, then they can’t afford a ton of stop signs on that path. Go time awaits.

Kings have the day off today, following the back-to-back and they finally get their practice day tomorrow, when they will skate on Long Island. Actually the only practice day on the trip, with games on Friday, Saturday and Monday. Three games remaining here, with points to be claimed. The travel and time zones should be a thing of the past, especially with today’s rest day. Excited to see how the Kings can meet the challenge, starting in Friday’s rematch versus the Islanders.