The storyline remains the same on the ice and in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season down the stretch this upcoming spring for the Los Angeles Kings and new interim head coach DJ Smith. It is now or never for center captain Anze Kopitar and the Kings to make the playoff push for the postseason in this upcoming next few weeks in the West, with single-digit games remaining this regular season schedule.
Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings need to play with confidence on home ice down the stretch this regular season in April in the next month
Smith and the Kings are pushing in the final stretch run this regular season in the Pacific Division in the West for Kopitar for this upcoming postseason in the playoffs this spring in April next month on the ice. The Kings have lost five of this past six games in the West this past couple of weeks this regular season this month in mid-to-late March.
The goal is simple for the Kings to win more important games in the standings in the West this regular season, and to avoid letting the foot off the gas on the scoreboard with leads in the third period in the final frame. The Kings have some winnable games left in the Pacific Division down the stretch this regular season in the next couple of weeks.
Here are the three most important remaining games in the West in the Pacific Division down the stretch this regular season in the next upcoming couple of weeks for the Kings next month in April.
vs. Nashville Predators (April 2)
It's a big opportunity in the standings this regular season down the stretch in this upcoming couple of weeks next month in April for the Kings to play a team they're behind in the West this spring multiple times on home ice in the next week or so vs. the Nashville Predators on April 2 and April 6 at Crypto Arena. The Kings need to play with confidence on home ice down the stretch this regular season vs. Nashville and the Vegas Golden Knights.
If the Predators and Golden Knights lose more games in the West this upcoming week in the standings this regular season, that opens the door for the Kings to step up in the Pacific Division this upcoming postseason this spring.
vs. Nashville Predators (April 6)
Anything is left on the table for the Kings this regular season down the stretch this spring in the league in the NHL. The Kings should win this game at home if the team can play well against the Predators in the West.
vs. Edmonton Oilers (April 11)
This is a big opportunity for the Kings and Smith to gain momentum and confidence for the postseason this upcoming spring in the playoffs in the Pacific Division in the West. The Kings and Kopitar will face and Edmonton Oilers team that has been ravaged by injuries down the stretch this regular season in this past couple of weeks.
The Oilers are fighting the Anaheim Ducks for a few points for the lead in the standings in the Pacific Division this regular season.