Scoring the puck offensively on the scoreboard has been a massive struggle on the ice in the postseason in the playoffs this past week for the Los Angeles Kings and interim head coach DJ Smith in the zone on that side of the ice. The Kings have not scored over two goals on the scoreboard in a game this postseason this spring in the West in this past week.
In this past few games, the Kings have needed the top forward lines core group in the active roster lineup this postseason in the playoffs to step up offensively in the zone vs. the Colorado Avalanche in this past week. But the Kings have plenty of the blame to spread around this postseason in the playoffs for the struggles on special teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage.
Smith and the Kings' coaching staff this postseason in the playoffs in the West needs more production scoring the puck offensively in the zone from the top unit lines up front in the active roster lineup, including center captain Anze Kopitar and winger Adrian Kempe.
If the Kings want to keep going this spring in this upcoming next couple of weeks in the West in the postseason in the playoffs, they must play better offensively in the zone late this weekend on Sunday afternoon (April 26) vs. Colorado on home ice at Crypto.com Arena.
Here are three Kings' players with the weight of the world on their shoulders in Game 4 vs. Colorado as LA faces elimination on home ice at Crypto.com Arena on April 26.
Adrian Kempe, F
On special teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage this postseason in the playoffs in the West this past week, Kempe and Artemi Panarin have scored the team's only goals on the scoreboard with the top power play unit offensively in the zone. Kempe scored the game's final goal on the scoreboard for the Kings in clutch time in the final frame in the third period in this past couple of days vs. Colorado in Game 3.
I think there is some blame you can put on the line with Panarin, Kopitar, and Kempe in the zone offensively this postseason in the playoffs in the West. Panarin and Kempe haven't scored a goal or any total points offensively in the zone at even strength at 5-on-5 in this last three consecutive games on the ice.
"I think you got to think about everything. Whether it's jumble the top six, move a guy up, move a guy down. We're going to look at all possibilities to win one game."DJ Smith
If the Kings want to win more games on the scoreboard this postseason in the playoffs in the West, the team needs Kempe and Panarin to score the puck more offensively in the zone late this weekend and this upcoming week this month in late April.
Quinton Byfield, F
The best line this postseason in the playoffs in this past week on the ice and on the stat sheet for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff in the West has been the second line in the active roster lineup offensively in the zone. Quinton Byfield and Trevor Moore combined to score one of the game's only two goals on the scoreboard for the Kings in the opening frame in the first period vs. Colorado.
Byfield in the zone offensively this postseason in the playoffs for the Kings in the active roster lineup for the forward lines core group up front has played an important role matchup in the West vs. Colorado in this past week. He's played over a half dozen minutes on the ice at even strength and on special teams on the power play top unit this postseason in the playoffs vs. Colorado superstar center Nathan MacKinnon.
Drew Doughty, D
The Kings have played really well with Mikey Anderson and Brandt Clarke on the blue line on defense this postseason in the playoffs in the West in this past week. Defenseman Drew Doughty has struggled to lead the Kings' special teams top unit on the power play this postseason in the playoffs this spring on the 5-on-4 man advantage late this month in late April in Game 3.
Doughty hasn't really looked connected on the blue line on defense in the zone or on either side of the ice for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff this postseason in the playoffs in this past week.
"Speed. Their D skate very well, their gaps are obviously really good. I think more speed, to get to pucks quicker, might give us a hand."Smith
The Kings could use some help from the blue line on defense at even strength at 5-on-5 to set up more plays in the neutral zone in transition and offensively in the zone to help score the puck and make plays coast-to-coast.
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