The LA Kings got one step closer to securing home ice in the first round of the playoffs with a 6-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks. The magic number is down to four and with a game against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday, they could go into that game and with a win secure that.
While the Oilers have two games before that game, and with losses in both, the Kings could also have home-ice locked up. However, the return of Connor McDavid has given Edmonton a boost and it isn't likely that the Oilers will lose both.
For the Kings, the focus should be to control their own destiny and they can do that by continuing to win. They will need to do that on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche but it won't be easy as the Avalanche has won the first two meetings this season.
In the first game, back in November, the Avalanche would win 4-2 but the Kings had a 2-1 lead going into the second period. However, Mikko Rantanen took over and scored three straight goals to give Colorado the lead.
The last meeting was much closer and only about two weeks ago but Colorado didn't let the Kings get much going and would shut them out by a final score of 4-0. When looking at this matchup, the Kings have three things in their favor that could help them finally beat Colorado in their final meeting of the regular season.