LA Kings: West Division power rankings after Week Five

The LA Kings snapped their five-game losing streak last week. Meanwhile, the Blues and Coyotes have been getting awfully familiar with each other.

Everyone knew they’d be getting to know the other teams in their division pretty well for this season, but I don’t think anyone thought we’d quite see what the St. Louis Blues and Arizona Coyotes are going through right now.

Thanks to COVID-19 postponements in their respective schedules, St. Louis and Arizona are nearing the end of a stretch of seven straight games against each other, with the finale set to go in Glendale on Tuesday.

Here’s how the Blues, Coyotes, LA Kings, and everyone else in the West Division stack up in the latest edition of our weekly power rankings.

1. Vegas Golden Knights (10-2-1)

Last week: 1

Marc-Andre Fleury welcomed the Colorado Avalanche back to play with a 30-save shutout on Sunday. With their next three games also coming against the Avalanche, the Golden Knights will have a real opportunity to stake their claim to the top spot in the West Division.

Next four games: Colorado, @ Colorado (2), @ San Jose

2. Colorado Avalanche (7-4-1)

Last week: 2

Playing for the first time since February 2nd, Colorado looked a little rusty in a 1-0 defeat in Vegas on Sunday. Being without both Gabriel Landeskog (COVID-19 protocol) and Cale Makar (upper-body injury) certainly didn’t help. However, Nathan MacKinnon returned from a lower-body injury that, thanks to the Avalanche’s COVID-19 pause, only ended up forcing him to miss one game.

Next four games: @ Vegas, Vegas (2), @ Arizona

3. St. Louis Blues (9-4-2)

Last week: 3

You think the Blues and Coyotes are sick of each other yet?

St. Louis and Arizona have split the six consecutive games they’ve played against each other so far, with the Blues taking the last two, most recently a 4-1 victory in the desert on Saturday. Mike Hoffman had a goal and an assist and is starting to pick things up after a slow start with the Blues.

Next four games: @ Arizona, San Jose (2), Los Angeles

4. Minnesota Wild (6-5-0)

Last week: 4

Nothing new to report on the Wild, again. They’re hoping to resume their season in LA on Tuesday after their locker room was hit by COVID-19.

Next four games: @ Los Angeles, @ Anaheim (2), Los Angeles

5. Arizona Coyotes (6-6-2)

Last week: 5

You have to give the Coyotes some credit. They’re playing a seven-game series against one of the better teams in the West, and they’ve held their own. They’ll have a chance to take four of seven from the Blues with a win on Tuesday.

Next four games: St. Louis, Los Angeles (2), Anaheim

6. Anaheim Ducks (6-6-3)

Last week: 6

If Anaheim manages to sneak into the playoffs, John Gibson should probably get Hart Trophy consideration. His latest work of heroism for the offensively-challenged Ducks was shutting the door in a 1-0 win in Vegas last Thursday.

Next four games: @ San Jose, Minnesota (2), @ Arizona

7. LA Kings (4-6-3)

Last week: 8

The LA Kings’ week consisted of just a pair of home games against the San Jose Sharks. After a horrible first period on Tuesday, they were the better team over the remainder of the two games, though they did blow a late lead in the first game and ultimately lose in a shootout.

Cal Petersen has now made three straight starts for the Kings, owning a .926 save percentage and a 2.49 goals-against average. Naturally, it’s fueling trade speculation about Jonathan Quick. Still, with two more years to go on a contract that carries a $5.8 million cap hit, LA would likely need to retain a significant amount for there to be any interest.

Next four games: Minnesota, @ Arizona (2), @ St. Louis

8. San Jose Sharks (5-7-1)

Last week: 7

How bad might things look for the Sharks if not for their 4-1 record in shootouts? San Jose has managed just one non-shootout win through 13 games, and their -14 goal differential is the worst in the division and fourth-worst mark in the league. They did finally get to play a game in San Jose on Saturday but lost 3-1 to Vegas.

They also seem to be running out of patience with struggling goaltender Martin Jones.

Next four games: Anaheim, @ St. Louis (2), Vegas