#LAKings Kings rolling toward the playoffs no matter what the pundits say (Daily News)
The Kings will conclude a fruitful stretch, with 10 of 11 games at home and one that has seen them capture 16 of a possible 18 points thus far, with a back-to-back set this weekend.
Theyll welcome the Winnipeg Jets, whom they last faced in a 6-5 overtime win on the Feb. 28 evening of the trade that sent Jonathan Quick away, for a Saturday matinee. Itll be a rubber match since the Jets won the first meeting Oct. 27. Then the Kings will wrap up their homestand with a Sunday showdown with the St. Louis Blues, seeking a sweep in a season series thats seen them win twice, on Halloween and on March 4, by a combined tally of 9-3.
The teams directly above (Vegas) and below (Edmonton) the Kings in the standings are also set to square off Saturday. A Vegas loss in regulation and a Kings sweep would put the Kings back in a points tie for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
Yet across the continent, championship buzz has been limited for the Kings. The Athletic modeled the Kings chances at winning the Stanley Cup after this months trade deadline at just 1%, placing them among the rest, a category burgeoning with bubble playoff teams and also-rans.
None of us really care [what the pundits say], Coach Todd McLellan said after the Kings 8-2 stampede over Calgary. We just play and were going to try and keep it that way as long as we possibly can.
As they relish their low profile, the Kings are on the mend.
Defenseman Sean Durzi (upper body), the Kings second highest-scoring defender who last played March 6 against Washington, increased his level of participation in team activities throughout the week. Winger Kevin Fiala (lower body), who leads the Kings in scoring and has been out since March 9, rejoined the group on a limited basis. Forward Gabe Vilardi (upper body), one of the teams five 20-goal scorers this season, missed part of the win over Calgary and one practice, but should be considered probable for the weekends action.
In the absence of Fiala and Durzi, the Kings top line has continued to shoulder a considerable load. Captain Anze Kopitar has six goals and six assists in his past 10 games. Top goal-scorer Adrian Kempe notched nine points in his past eight contests.
Yet the active ingredient in their formula might be 20-year-old Quinton Byfield, whose move to the wing has broadened his horizons. Byfield has stacked up nine points in his past 10 outings after compiling 12 in 32 previous appearances.
Weve been doing well on the forecheck, Kempe said. Our line especially, we felt like that was something that we had to get better at and since Qs been on our line, weve been getting a lot better in that area.
Byfield has blossomed in a puck recovery role, an area where McLellan said he excelled because of his mix of quick feet, imposing size, long reach, tenacity and ability to read plays. Byfield has not yet added much finish to his mix: His only goal in this recent stretch was an empty-netter, his first goal since the two he scored in January.
I think the goals will come, hopefully, but Im happy just being out there, just trying to be a difference-maker out there each time, whether its just with my body or just passing, Byfield said.
Therell be no shortage of big bodies up front for the Jets with Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler resembling a NBA frontcourt as much as an NHL forward line, not to mention 6-foot-6-inch checking center Adam Lowry. Those four, along with winger Kyle Connor and defenseman Josh Morrissey, are the Jets top six scorers, with Morrissey placing second league-wide among blue-liners. Winnipeg currently owns the final wild-card berth in the West.
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St. Louis won the Stanley Cup in 2019, their first of four consecutive playoff appearances for the Blues. That string appears set to come to an end in a season that saw them ship out mainstays like Ryan OReilly, Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Barbashev. Theyve been paced in scoring by wingers Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich this season.
Winnipeg at Kings
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeart Radio
St. Louis at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeart Radio
https://www.dailynews.com/2023/03/24...e-pundits-say/
Theyll welcome the Winnipeg Jets, whom they last faced in a 6-5 overtime win on the Feb. 28 evening of the trade that sent Jonathan Quick away, for a Saturday matinee. Itll be a rubber match since the Jets won the first meeting Oct. 27. Then the Kings will wrap up their homestand with a Sunday showdown with the St. Louis Blues, seeking a sweep in a season series thats seen them win twice, on Halloween and on March 4, by a combined tally of 9-3.
The teams directly above (Vegas) and below (Edmonton) the Kings in the standings are also set to square off Saturday. A Vegas loss in regulation and a Kings sweep would put the Kings back in a points tie for first place in the Pacific Division and Western Conference.
Yet across the continent, championship buzz has been limited for the Kings. The Athletic modeled the Kings chances at winning the Stanley Cup after this months trade deadline at just 1%, placing them among the rest, a category burgeoning with bubble playoff teams and also-rans.
None of us really care [what the pundits say], Coach Todd McLellan said after the Kings 8-2 stampede over Calgary. We just play and were going to try and keep it that way as long as we possibly can.
As they relish their low profile, the Kings are on the mend.
Defenseman Sean Durzi (upper body), the Kings second highest-scoring defender who last played March 6 against Washington, increased his level of participation in team activities throughout the week. Winger Kevin Fiala (lower body), who leads the Kings in scoring and has been out since March 9, rejoined the group on a limited basis. Forward Gabe Vilardi (upper body), one of the teams five 20-goal scorers this season, missed part of the win over Calgary and one practice, but should be considered probable for the weekends action.
In the absence of Fiala and Durzi, the Kings top line has continued to shoulder a considerable load. Captain Anze Kopitar has six goals and six assists in his past 10 games. Top goal-scorer Adrian Kempe notched nine points in his past eight contests.
Yet the active ingredient in their formula might be 20-year-old Quinton Byfield, whose move to the wing has broadened his horizons. Byfield has stacked up nine points in his past 10 outings after compiling 12 in 32 previous appearances.
Weve been doing well on the forecheck, Kempe said. Our line especially, we felt like that was something that we had to get better at and since Qs been on our line, weve been getting a lot better in that area.
Byfield has blossomed in a puck recovery role, an area where McLellan said he excelled because of his mix of quick feet, imposing size, long reach, tenacity and ability to read plays. Byfield has not yet added much finish to his mix: His only goal in this recent stretch was an empty-netter, his first goal since the two he scored in January.
I think the goals will come, hopefully, but Im happy just being out there, just trying to be a difference-maker out there each time, whether its just with my body or just passing, Byfield said.
Therell be no shortage of big bodies up front for the Jets with Mark Scheifele, Pierre-Luc Dubois and Blake Wheeler resembling a NBA frontcourt as much as an NHL forward line, not to mention 6-foot-6-inch checking center Adam Lowry. Those four, along with winger Kyle Connor and defenseman Josh Morrissey, are the Jets top six scorers, with Morrissey placing second league-wide among blue-liners. Winnipeg currently owns the final wild-card berth in the West.
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Sizzling Kings use another big 2nd period to top Blue Jackets
St. Louis won the Stanley Cup in 2019, their first of four consecutive playoff appearances for the Blues. That string appears set to come to an end in a season that saw them ship out mainstays like Ryan OReilly, Vladimir Tarasenko and Ivan Barbashev. Theyve been paced in scoring by wingers Jordan Kyrou and Pavel Buchnevich this season.
Winnipeg at Kings
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeart Radio
St. Louis at Kings
When: 7:30 p.m. Sunday
Where: Crypto.com Arena
TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeart Radio
https://www.dailynews.com/2023/03/24...e-pundits-say/