Alexander: Kings trying to sharpen their game for the playoffs
Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck past William Lagesson #37 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Greg Cronin of the Anaheim Ducks looks on against the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Jim Hiller of the Los Angeles Kings talks to his team during a time out against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Assistant coach Newell Brown of the Anaheim Ducks talks to his team during a time out against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Los Angeles Kings control the puck against he Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Olen Zellweger #51 of the Anaheim Ducks controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Kevin Fiala #22 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after scoring as Sam Colangelo #64 of the Anaheim Ducks skates past during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Viktor Arvidsson #33 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Phillip Danault #24 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Adrian Kempe #9 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jackson LaCombe #60 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a high stick to the face against Akil Thomas #41 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jackson LaCombe #60 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a high stick to the face against Akil Thomas #41 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alex Laferriere #78 of the Los Angeles Kings fights for the puck against goalie Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck against he Anaheim Ducks lduring the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Isac Lundestrom #21 of the Anaheim Ducks controls the puck against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ryan Strome #16 of the Anaheim Ducks fights for the puck against Blake Lizotte #46 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings enter the ice prior to a NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
George Lopez is announced on Mexican Heritage Night prior to a NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Jackson LaCombe #60 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a high stick to the face against Akil Thomas #41 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after coring against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Pierre-Luc Dubois #80 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after coring against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot by Trevor Zegras (not pictured) of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Los Angeles Kings enter the ice prior to a NHL hockey game between the Los Angeles Kings and the Anaheim Ducks at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot against the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings blocks a shot by Trevor Zegras #11 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alex Turcotte #38 of the Los Angeles Kings controls the puck between Radko Gudas #7 of the Anaheim Ducks and teammate Ross Johnston #44 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alex Laferriere #78 of the Los Angeles Kings fights for the puck against goalie Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Matt Roy #3 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Brett Leason #20 of the Anaheim Ducks reaches for the puck against Kevin Fiala #22 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Trevor Lewis #61 of the Los Angeles Kings celebrates after teammate Matt Roy (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Kings scores past goalie Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks as Jackson LaCombe #60 of the Anaheim Ducks reacts during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alex Killorn #17 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot on goal against goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alex Killorn #17 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot on goal against goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings during the second period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Leo Carlsson #91 of the Anaheim Ducks controls the puck as Drew Doughty #8 of the Los Angeles Kings dives during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Trevor Zegras #11 of the Anaheim Ducks reacts after scoring against the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie Lukas Dostal #1 of the Anaheim Ducks blocks a shot by the Los Angeles Kings during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Goalie David Rittich #31 of the Los Angeles Kings can’t stop a goal by Trevor Zegras (not pictured) of the Anaheim Ducks during the third period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Ben Meyers #39 of the Anaheim Ducks fights for the puck against Quinton Byfield #55 of the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a NHL hockey game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Saturday, April 13, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
LOS ANGELES – The real games, the ones that truly matter, are almost here.
And if you talk to Kings players, the two regular season games that remain this week have a certain importance because they lead into the playoffs, and because, as more than one of them have noted, “It’s not a switch you can turn on.”
Those words Saturday night were uttered by Pierre-Luc Dubois. But they are an article of faith up and down the roster. Maintaining the energy, retaining that edge in their attitude and their play, is critical to prepare for the increased intensity of the postseason – especially for a team that hasn’t won a playoff series in a decade, or since Alec Martinez’ goal in double overtime brought a second Stanley Cup to Los Angeles on June 13, 2014.
It has been a long time, and you can forgive Kings fans for getting a bit antsy.
And so Saturday night’s final game of this season’s Freeway Faceoff, a 3-1 victory over the Ducks, carried some significance, albeit not enough to require Anze Kopitar’s presence in uniform. The Kings’ captain was scratched with what was initially announced as “an undisclosed injury” on the team PR department’s social media account, and head coach Jim Hiller confirmed after the game that Kopitar indeed was afforded a maintenance day because of some “nagging” maladies.
“We’re not gonna rest anybody,” he said. “But if there’s something that’s nagging or somebody picks up something tonight, those decisions (we’ll) make based on that.”
The Kings conclude the regular year with home games Monday against Minnesota and Thursday against Chicago, but we should probably assume that in the backs of their minds they’re gearing up for a third straight April meeting against the Edmonton Oilers.
Vancouver’s 3-1 victory over Edmonton Saturday night pushed the Oilers five points behind the Pacific Division-leading Canucks, and while the Oilers have three games left to the Canucks’ two, their chances of catching Vancouver are fading. The Kings have a three-point cushion over Vegas, which has three left, and there’s still a chance the defending Stanley Cup champs could catch the Kings for third place and push them into a wild card spot, which would mean L.A. would face Central Division champ Dallas.
But the odds, and fate, seem to be pushing L.A. and Edmonton toward each other for the third straight spring. The last two, you’ll recall, didn’t go so well.
“We really can’t control anything like that,” said Dubois, who was not here for those back-to-back losses to the Oilers, when asked if seeding mattered. “I mean, we can control how we play and what we do. You can’t control the teams above or behind us. Like I said, it’s not a switch you can turn on. It’s how you play toward the end of the year. Everybody knows what we have to do to win. And I think we’re building towards that.”
Los Angeles is 20-11-1 since Feb. 10, a victory at home over Edmonton in the first game after the All-Star break that was Hiller’s first as head coach after replacing Todd McLellan.
And the Kings have flipped another narrative during the course of this season. They set an NHL record for the most consecutive road wins to start a season with 11, and were far better on the road than at home to start. But under Hiller they’re 13-2-1 at home, 7-9 on the road.
“I wish I had the answer” why, Dubois said. “But, I mean, home ice is huge. We might not get it. We won’t get it in the first round. But … if you have three games at home, if you can win the first one (on the road), the series changes.
“When you’re at home, you get the (last) matchups, and the whole bench is flowing. We have a good team. We have a lot of depth. And when you’re not concentrating so much on getting the right matchups every time, the whole bench can feel good, the whole bench plays well, there’s a lot of energy. I think we’re doing a good job with that. Every line tonight contributed. Everybody played well.”
Anyway, as Matt Roy pointed out, “every team is really good. So I think we’re ready for just about anybody. And we know that we’re going to be on the road.
“… If you can go to the playoffs feeling good, I think it kind of helps your team’s mindset. You just kind of feel more ready. You don’t want to go in losing focus or confidence. You want to be ready to go, and you want your teammates to be ready to go as well.”
So, then, the last two regular season games have an importance that transcends the result. Saturday’s effort was “flat to start,” Hiller said, but his players persevered and ultimately won a game that they were expected to win, four nights after losing in Anaheim.
And if there’s any need for motivation going into the final two, against teams that are out of the playoff race, there’s this: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are waiting.