It would appear the Los Angeles Kings don't have much to play for in the final game of the regular season. They have already been guaranteed second in the Pacific Division and with that they get home ice in the first round and also know that their opponent will be the Edmonton Oilers, for the fourth straight year.
However, when they take the ice against the Calgary Flames on Thursday night they will have the chance to make franchise history. Right now, the Kings have 105 points on the season which is tied for the record set back in the 1974-75 season.
That season, the Kings went 42-17-21 but accomplished the 105 points in only 80 games so that team will still own the record for points percentage. If the Kings were to win against the Flames they will come up .004 percentage points short of that record.
While a overtime loss to the Flames would also accomplish the goal of breaking the record for points, if the Kings were to win they also would secure the record for most wins in a season. That total stands at 48 wins, which was set more recently back in the 2015-16 season, and also was the last time the Kings finished second in the Pacific Division.
Entering the final game of the regular season, the Kings are tied with that team for wins and with a win will hold that record outright.
It has been an impressive season and the reason the Kings are in the position they are in to break these records is due to their ability to protect home ice. They finished the season with a record of 31-5-4 at Crypto.com Arena and already has the franchise record for most home wins in a season.
While a record would be great, the Los Angeles Kings seem to have their sights set on something bigger. That is advancing in the playoffs and hopefully ending with a Stanley Cup so the focus likely will be on being as healthy as possible. This means that the pressure will fall on the shoulders of some of the younger players like Samuel Helenius, Akil Thomas and Jacob Moverare while veterans get another night off before the playoffs start in a few days.