The Los Angeles Kings’ March Into Madness
Oh February, we will miss thee. One of the most productive months for the Los Angeles Kings (as it seems to be tradition) saw the Stanley Cup Champions make their way back into the playoffs, but not before stumbling into March. With that lies the problem with leaving such a fine month of February… March is going to be full of madness.
Mar 1, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Los Angeles Kings head coach Darryl Sutter reacts on the bench during the second period against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Once again, Los Angeles was a beast in the shortest month of the year as they won eight straight games which had rocketed them into a top three spot in the Pacific Division. Unfortunately, the month of love ended and so did their win streak as LA lost three straight sliding into March. One of which was against the Anaheim Ducks as the Kings gave up a 2-0 lead in a 4-2 loss due to a third period collapse by Los Angeles.
But then again it might have been a hiccup as the Kings are right on schedule. I previously wrote that this is how the Kings operate.
- Start the season off right.
- Go through midseason slump.
- Bite and scratch their way into the playoffs.
Sure, Los Angeles has three losses that took them out of a secure divisional playoff spot and even demoted them from a wild-card position. That is no problem.
Los Angeles Kings
Okay, maybe a little problem… the month of March. The second to last month in the regular season brings a not-so-pleasant journey. The Kings will only be gracing Staples Center with their presence only four times this month. The other 10 games are on the road which had already started with a horrible 5-2 loss against the Winnipeg Jets on the first day of the month.
But then the Kings bounced back against the lowly Edmonton Oilers with a 5-2 victory this past Tuesday. It seems like a roller coaster right now but if they can stay afloat and pull it together in the last six weeks of the season, we will surely be seeing the Kings in the playoffs once again.
Speaking of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, is LA set to repeat? Well I would go out on a limb and say if they miss the playoffs they will not repeat and if they do make the playoffs, they have a shot (#duh).
Seriously though, I expect the Kings to land the seventh or eighth spot in the playoffs as a wild card as they barely clinch a berth in the final games of the regular season. From there, the Kings should make a run mightier than the gust of 1000 winds!
That is just how it goes in LA.