The biggest obstacle to a long playoff run may be the airport.
Of course, if the Kings make the playoffs, and now things look pretty good. Along with over on Thursday and the Washington Capitals at crypto.com arena, the Kings jumped Edmonton to second place in the Pacific division, moving within six points of first place Las Vegas.
The victory was the team’s fourth straight, the longest winning streak in over two months. But it wasn’t just that the king won. It was how they won and where they won.
They controlled every stage of the game, overtaking and postponing the physical capital. They scored a power play goal, killing five penalties. And they kept the league’s best scoring teams out, stopping Ovechkin, the second-highest scorer in history, leaving him with nine goals of shyness in breaking the former intrusion record of 894 career goals.
“That was the case all year round,” the coach said of his team’s efforts. “We had a game plan. We followed it for 60 minutes, so that each player could.”
That’s how they won. Where they win is just as important.
The Kings have lost just three times in 29 home games this season and just three times in regulations, the best in the NHL. On the streets, their 17 losses are probably the most among Western Conference playoff teams. So, if a team starts the playoffs on a trip to LAX, the postseason run could be short.
It’s not novel. The Kings were eliminated in the playoffs in each of the first rounds of the past three seasons. And every time we open a postseason on the roads of Edmonton. In fact, the team has never won a playoff series under general manager.
However, they also had no home ice advantage in the playoff series under break. Once you’re number one or second in the division, you can potentially flip the script as Wang hasn’t lost to any of the top 15 NHL teams at home this year.
On the road, they have beaten only one of the same 15 teams in the past two months.
“We feel it doesn’t matter who’s playing, especially on home ice. If we play the game, we’ll come forward,” said goalkeeper Darcy Kemper, who hasn’t lost controls at home since November 7th.
“Obviously we’re turning our eyes to try and get home for the playoffs,” said Kuemper, who posted his first shutout from New Year’s Day against a team that hasn’t been vacant since the seventh game of the season. “Every team in the race wants that and we know how important it is for every point to keep the stretch.”
“We’re strong at home this year and far better than last year,” added Kevin Fiara, who had goals and assists on Thursday. “We all feel comfortable beating and showing it.”
Thursday’s game definitely had a playoff vibe, and Wang rose to the challenge. Warren Vogel gave him the only goal he needed when he hit a loose puck from the edge of the crease with the rest of the opening period at 6:52. Goal, Vogel’s 19th During the season he gave 200 points in his NHL career.
Fiala doubled his lead on the 22nd goal of the season on a 65-second power play in the third term, and Quinton Byfield scored Fiala’s assist 3-0 while goals were announced in the PA system.
This was the team’s 15th goal in a four-game home victory straight. They have scored just 16 points in their last eight road games.
“In the locker room, we’ve always believed,” Fiara said. “Ranking doesn’t matter. I don’t care who I beat. But tonight we beat the best team in the league.”
A few minutes were ticked, so the game became chippy and five players shared a penalty box at one point. However, the king did not retreat. If they play that way in the playoffs, they will win many games.
“We believe that if we are all together, we all believe that we have to do the same thing and play our team to play and succeed.
Especially if they play at home.
