LA Kings: Team report cards after the first ten games

Category number four: LA Kings Special teams.

Grade: A

If there has been a highlight to the LA Kings season thus far, it is the play of their special teams. Despite having a losing record, it has been the Kings special teams play that has helped keep them in most of their games. The astounding part about this special teams success is it is happening despite the team’s five-on-five struggles on offense and defense.

The Kings power play is currently eleventh in the league with a success rate of 23.1 percent. With nine goals scored, the power play has accounted for one-third of the team’s total offense. While the power play efficiency is a pleasant surprise, it can not account for 33 percent of the total offense for the Kings to be successful going forward.

Even more impressive has been the Kings penalty-killing units, which right now is the fourth-best in the NHL. They have killed  32 of 37penalties, with half of their games being played against the top three teams in their division. The penalty killing prowess might be difficult to maintain with all the injuries to the defense, but if the Kings are going to turn their season around, it will need to continue.