Angeles Analysis – Good To Play In Some Nailbiters

Good way to hit the break.

With yesterday’s win over Calgary, the Kings hit the NHL’s holiday break as one of three teams in the NHL with a winning percentage of .700 or higher. Only the New York Rangers rank higher. Not a bad place to be.

Last night’s game against the Flames continued a theme, in some ways, that we’ve seen here over the past couple of weeks. Early this season, the Kings romped their way to victories. As they rattled off wins left and right, especially on the road, they did so in very convincing fashion. It wasn’t the grind-it-out, tightly-contested performances we’ve become accustomed to the Kings being so successful with over the last two seasons. Earlier, it was consistent wins by multiple goals, without much to play for as third periods came and went.

As of late, the Kings have had to grind things out much more than they did. Last night’s win was a prime example. The Kings took six minor penalties, five of which came in the second half of the game. An over-taxed penalty kill unit held up, but after a Calgary power-play goal in the third period, a game that was one LA goal away from being another of those three-plus goal wins became one goal against from overtime. The Kings hung on and eventually found the empty netter from Quinton Byfield, but they had to win through a bit of adversity.

As Todd McLellan spoke about after the game, that’s not such a bad thing.

“It was a tough, hard game, it didn’t go necessarily the way we wanted it to the whole night, but we won that,” he said. “I felt, early in the year, we were winning some games where we didn’t have a lot of adversity in them, it wasn’t a lot of situations where you’re biting your nails and that type of stuff. So, I think these some of these games are good for us to play, it reminds us how hard it is to win.”

Now, taking those penalties is not encouraged. Quite the opposite, because it’s not a recipe for success. But, the Kings really haven’t needed too many reminders this year, have they?

Entering the holiday break, the Kings have seven regulation losses. No team in the NHL has fewer. Wins have come early and often as the Kings have separated themselves at the moment into a group of three teams at the top of the Pacific Division, all at or around the same winning percentage, all within striking distance of each other in the standings.

They’ve come through the first half of what is ultimately a stretch of seven consecutive games against the Pacific Division with a record of 3-1-0. With games to come against San Jose, Vegas and Edmonton – in a 3-in-4 fashion – the ability to feel comfortable in uncomfortable situations will be needed. It’ll be needed in the month of January, when the Kings are on the road for 20 of 31 days. That’s a damn grind. It’ll be needed as they hit the other side of the All-Star break, transitioning into a playoff push, when the games get tighter and the need to win games like that becomes that much greater. It’s been nice to have that ability to win games the way the Kings have. It’s not something the Kings really had over the last couple of seasons, so to rank second in the NHL with 13 wins by three-or-more goals is a great place to be in. The ability to win those one-goal games, ultimately, will probably be more important, though. It’s in that area the Kings are happy to have gained more experience here over the last couple of weeks.

Speaking of recent takeaways, last night was perhaps the strongest game together for the line of Alex Laferriere, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Arthur Kaliyev. Todd McLellan believes it’s been two games in a row they’ve been effective.

A 9-3 advantage in scoring chances and a 5-1 advantage in high-danger chances. Laferriere and Dubois both scored, with both finally cashing in on what’s been an uptick in chances together as of late. Both players spoke after yesterday’s game and both shared some good things. Dubois admitted he feels his line is still in search of an identity. He likened his start here to his first season in Winnipeg, noting there’s “a lot of different things and a lot of different expectations.” Laferriere called Dubois a “dynamic” player and on a different night, it might’ve been a three or four point outing. His goal might’ve really been his third or fourth best chance to get on the scoresheet. In Dubois’ eyes, though, there’s a lot more to his game and several more ways he can contribute than just goals and assists. If he continues to do those things, the points will take care of themselves. 19-7-4 are the three numbers he feels the most concerned with anyways.

When that line is operating at that level, it completes things up front for the Kings.

It’s obvious that the presence of Dubois amongst the team’s centers has benefitted the rest of the group. When that line is as “dangerous” as McLellan feels they’ve been over the last two games, it turns the Kings into a matchup nightmare. The Kopitar line has gone pretty well and we’re seeing dynamic play from the Danault line. I mean, seriously, how do you stop that release from Trevor Moore? Lizotte’s line is who they’ve always been. When all four lines are playing the way they’re capable of, look out. Very difficult to match up against.

As the Kings look ahead, it’s a well-deserved three days off for the group. League mandated, the Kings will not practice on December 24, 25 or 26. They’ll be back on the ice on December 27 for morning skate before immediately getting right into a back-to-back set, home and away, with games against the Sharks and Golden Knights respectively.

On the positive side, it certainly sounds as if we’ll see Vladislav Gavrikov back in action for that game on Wednesday. As the divisional slate continues, Gavrikov is an important piece who can make the difference in a one-goal game, at either end of the rink. The Kings exercised caution with his return and three extra days won’t hurt anyone. With yesterday’s win, there was no harm in doing so.

With that, a happy Christmas Eve to those who celebrate. A happy December 24 to those who do not. A happy day off for myself. Talk soon, Insiders!