On Thursday night, the Los Angeles Kings' season came to a disappointing end, once again at the hands of the Edmonton Oilers. For many, this Kings team felt a little different this year, first by finishing ahead of the Oilers in the standings and securing home ice advantage.
The Kings started off the playoffs by taking the first two games in Los Angeles, but there still seemed to be an uneasy feeling about heading to Edmonton. Once the Oilers won Games 3 and 4, the murmurs of “Here we go again” started to recycle throughout the Kings world. Could it be that the Oilers get into the Kings psyche?
There is no doubt that the Oilers are a good team with exceptional players, but the Kings roster is filled with enormous talent and skill, and includes some of the youngest stars in the National Hockey League. Do the Kings find themselves in situations where the Oilers appear to have more control?
Maybe it’s a control of the mind that the Oilers seem to have over the Kings where they know how to position themselves on the ice and how they go about attacking the zone. Even the Kings find themselves chasing after players like McDavid, Draisaitl, and the aging Corey Perry.
Yes, it’s hard to deny that the Edmonton Oilers have proven a psychological edge over the Kings in recent years; this postseason has certainly been no exception to an established mental hurdle and the questions the Kings need to answer in the offseason.
Los Angeles Kings may carry a mental burden when facing the Oilers.
This year’s playoffs may have reinforced the Oilers’ confidence over the Kings, especially after winning four straight and building on their success after each win. Meanwhile, the Kings players may not acknowledge any psychological barriers, but it’s clear that there is a mental burden dark cloud hovering over this team.
This is a talented young Kings team and a team that will have to be reckoned with for years to come. The key is deciding if winning is mind over matter or if the mental toughness, focus, and belief can influence the play on the ice. Those answers will have to wait until next season for the LA Kings.