Angeles Analysis – Take Their Word(s) For It

Jim Hiller called it an unsuccessful trip.

Phillip Danault acknowledged that the Kings played tight games in Calgary and Edmonton that could have gone the other way, but added that Winnipeg was the same thing on the other side. Can’t say “well, that could have gone either way” if you don’t acknowledge the same thing in wins.

Brandt Clarke added that you could say the Kings outplayed a 2-3-0 record, but they “shot themselves in the foot too many times”, citing uncharacteristic lapses in details. Long story shots, those can be the types of mistakes that can decide a game.

Personally, in the moment, I thought the Kings played better than 2-3-0. Maybe not by a ton, but 5-6 points range. I think I still do, but players and coaches seemed to feel that the record reflected an up and down trip that featured a lot of good stretches but ultimately three defeats from five games away from home.

As I reflect back, wondering if maybe there was some romanticizing going on. Perhaps it was riding the emotions of the Winnipeg victory, one of the team’s biggest of the season from that standpoint. That one meant a lot to the group and it showed, especially with all of the unknowns coming in. The game in Edmonton just felt like a very good hockey game, ultimately ending 1-0 the other way. The 5-1 win in Vancouver, even if the game was closer than the scoreline for sure, was a resounding victory on the road and we haven’t seen a ton of four-goal away wins this season. Strong performances too from several indiividuals.

It could be those highs standing out that led to the discrepancy.

Maybe it’s what has gone on away from the ice, seeing the Kings organization answer the call of helping the community in a time of need. Seeing all five road cities do the same, with Vancouver and Seattle donating 50/50 funds towards supporting those impacted by the wildfires. Perhaps that factored in.

Ultimately though, offensive struggles cost the team in Calgary and Edmonton, before the worst game of the trip in Seattle. A type of performance we haven’t seen from the Kings in awhile, at least through the bulk of the first two periods, with a 39-7 shot attempts advantage in the third period ultimately amounting to a 0-1 deficit. The damage was done, though.

I guess looking at it again this morning, as opposed to in the moment last night, maybe four points is fair. I don’t know. I still think the Kings played a little bit better than four points but playing well for long stretches can sometimes be cancelled out by singular moments or plays. Happened on this trip for sure. Sometimes, like last night in Seattle, the Kings had to try and make it happen the other way. Could a better third period make up for execution in the first 40. Actually kind of reminded me of the 7-3 win in Philadelphia. On that game, the Kings overcame it. Last night, it wasn’t enough.

Honestly, maybe it doesn’t matter. The record is the record. The game is the game, Slim Charles.

Ultimately, where does it leave the Kings?

When they departed for Winnipeg on January 9, the Kings sat eight points behind division-leading Vegas and two points behind Edmonton. The gap is now two points closer to the Golden Knights, who have lost three straight games, and four points further from the Oilers, who are now tied atop the Pacific Division. While the Kings remain relatively comfortably in a playoff spot, this trip had the chance to provide more distance on the backend as well. Currently, there’s just a five-point gap between the Kings in and the first team out, versus the six-point gap at the top.

And let me tell you, even though the Kings are the team with games in hand right now, the road ahead does not get easier.

The next seven games are as follows.

2x against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers
3x against other current playoff teams (Carolina, Tampa Bay, Columbus)
1x against the NHL’s hottest team over the last 10 games at 8-2-2 (Detroit)
1x against a team that just beat the Kings last month (Pittsburgh)

From the time that stretch comes to a close, the Kings will have a few days off to recover and then they’ll finish the season with 22 of 32 games on home ice. For the league’s best team at home this season, that’s a big positive. But man is it going to be a grind to get to that point.

The Kings got home around 1:30 AM last night. Today is a rest day. Tomorrow they host Pittsburgh. Tuesday is a practice day and Wednesday they play again. Then, it’s back on the plane, this time to the East Coast, for another five-game trip that spans 10 days on the road. In speaking with Danault after the game, he essentially likened it to being on the road the entire time, with such a short time at home. The next seven games will be a serious gutcheck for this group. Challenging opposition, a ton of travel and in the dog days of January, this is probably the biggest grind teams face all year.

It’ll be interesting to see how the Kings handle it. We just saw the most successful stretch of play this season, followed by a trip that didn’t net the points it should have, which could have changed where the Kings factor in the standings. Now we’ll see the most grueling stretch of the season. Big step up moment ahead. Jim Hiller said before yesterday’s game that the Kings have met challenges all season. They’ll face perhaps their biggest one yet over the next two weeks.

All I got for you today, Insiders. Ontario Reign are in action at home against the Calgary Wranglers, coverage there to follow. Then, back at it on Monday with a full game day’s worth of stories for the Penguins game. Then it’s back to the grind. See you tomorrow.