The shortened season of 2013 saw some benefits and some drawbacks for the Los Angeles Kings. While the season featured brilliance from the likes of Jeff Carter, it saw regression from a key player like Jonathan Quick. In regard to the former, though, his success in the 48-game campaign was no fluke.

Prior to joining the Kings, some wondered if Jeff Carter could ever return to his form of old. This was a former 40-goal scorer was went silent on the stat sheet in his brief time with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Which led to the Jackets flipping him during the same season in which they acquired him.

Carter’s time with the Kings got off to a bit of a slow start. He didn’t produce much down the stretch in 2011-12, and was relatively quiet for a good portion of the playoffs, though it didn’t hold the Kings back from winning a Stanley Cup. Last year, Carter burst back onto the scene with a brilliant season.

He finished the 2013 season with 26 goals in 48 games, putting him right in there with the very best in the game. To start this season, he has picked up right where he left off with that terrific season. Through four games, Carter has already notched four goals, including a pair in an overtime win for the Kings on Wednesday night.

It’s pretty clear that Jeff Carter has returned to his form of old. He didn’t have success in Columbus, and got off to a slow start in his time with the Kings, but this is one of the premier goal scorers on the planet, and we’re beginning to see that again, even early on in the season. Just don’t expect these g0al-per-game numbers that he’s posted early on to continue. Of course, a 40-goal season doesn’t seem entirely out of reach for the veteran forward at this point.