There is 15 games left in the 2024-25 regular season for the Los Angeles Kings and they are currently in position to make the playoffs. They are in third place in the Pacific Division but only two points back of the Edmonton Oilers and five points back of the Vegas Golden Knights, who currently lead the division.
This will be their fourth straight trip to the playoffs if the Kings make it this season but at this point, making it isn't good enough. They need to change the narrative and get past the first round, something they haven't been able to do since they won the Stanley Cup.
The best chance for them to do that would be to get home ice in the first round and for them to do that, they need to at least get past the Edmonton Oilers. If they are to do that, these are five players that the Kings will need to deliver over the rest of the season.
5 players the Los Angeles Kings need to step up in their playoff push
Adrian Kempe
Adrian Kempe has had a great season and probably been their most consistent forward over the course of the entire season. He is leading the Kings in goals with 28 and already matched last season's total in 10 less games.
There is no question that there is a pretty clear correalation between Kempe having good games and the Kings getting the win. In 37 wins, Kempe has 19 goals and 22 assists but in the 30 losses and overtime losses Kempe has only 9 goals and five assists.
If Kempe is making plays, the Kings are usually winning and that is what they need down the stretch.