Kings streaks have often followed difficult losses

Dwight King remembers the scurry over the final month of the 2011-12 season for the Kings to become playoff-eligible.

“I remember we went on a pretty good run just to make the playoffs that year,” he said.

That they did. And while King potted an interesting goal in Detroit on March 9, 2012 that with six minutes to go stood out as an important go-ahead marker in a game the Kings needed in the thick of a playoff race, it didn’t quite work out that way.

“I don’t score that many goals, so I think I know what goal you’re talking about. It was just a rebound,” he said. “Right at the end we lost, right?”

He’s right. Valtteri Filppula scored less than two minutes later (see: above), and Darren Helm broke the tie with 1:13 remaining to hand the host Red Wings a come-from behind win that dropped the Kings to 11th place in the Western Conference.

If it was a debilitating loss, someone should’ve informed the Kings. Los Angeles won their next six games as part of their strong second-half push under Darryl Sutter that allowed them to qualify for the playoffs as an eight seed, and, ultimately, win the Stanley Cup after dispatching Vancouver, St, Louis, Phoenix and New Jersey.

The winning streak that followed the loss in Detroit foretold what has developed into a bit of a trend. It’s likely a coincidence more than anything, but the Kings’ firmest stretches of standout play over the last four years have followed some excruciating losses.

Early in the Kings’ title defense in the lockout-delayed 2012-13 season, Alec Martinez tied a game Los Angeles had dominated at Joe Louis Arena on February 10, 2013 by banging in a Kyle Clifford rebound with 53 seconds remaining before Jonathan Ericsson’s slapshot from inside the right point trickled past Jonathan Quick with five seconds to play to give Detroit a 3-2 win, dropping the defending champs to 3-5-2.

The Kings won 4-1 in St. Louis the very next day, setting off an 11-3-0 streak that catapulted them into the meat of the Western Conference’s playoff seeding.

Last year, Los Angeles lost 2-1 at home to Calgary on November 30 on a Mike Cammalleri goal with 23 seconds remaining. They then won six straight games and nine of their next 10.

When the Kings lost to Chicago 5-3 on February 3 as part of nine losses in 10 games, they immediately rattled off wins in six straight games and nine of 10. When a 3-2 third period lead over Phoenix evaporated on March 17 and evolved into a 4-3 loss, they followed the tough loss by winning another six in a row.

Even this year, the club’s six-game October winning streak came on the heels of back-to-back losses to start the season, the latter of which featured a Coyotes come-from-behind overtime win.

It’s a coincidence, no doubt, but it’s worth mentioning because of the fashion in which their current winning streak developed. Los Angeles’ last loss was a 3-2 setback in Florida on February 5 when Nick Bjugstad and Brandon Pirri scored third period goals to lift the Panthers to a come-from-behind win.

Could this be history repeating itself? Have the Kings been galvanized by the loss in Florida?

“Yeah, well we should’ve won that game in Florida. I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” Drew Doughty said. “There were a couple plays at the end that cost us the game, but we were upset with that loss. We should’ve had that game and I think the guys did a really good job of bouncing back after that game in turning it around. Now we’re on a little bit of winning streak, but we need to make it a long winning streak and we need to win another game tonight.”

If anything, the loss tightened the already acute understanding that a playoff spot is not guaranteed – not even for the defending champions.

“I think it was a tough loss given the circumstances we’re in,” King said. “But I think everyone in here is determined to make a push, make the playoffs. No matter what team you’re on, that’s your goal. As far as the game being motivation, I think it could be but at the end of the day you always want to play. It’s your profession to get yourself ready.”