Los Angeles Kings Must Take Advantage Of Soft November Schedule

While the Los Angeles Kings have been enjoying a nice start to the season which has already seen them go on a seven-game winning streak, their upcoming schedule may provide even more opportunity. After a trip to face Central opponents Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, the Kings return home for a five-game homestand before heading out on a five-game Eastern Conference road trip. While three of the five teams that will visit Staples Center have a .500 record or better, there is a lot of optimism for the home team.

First, the Columbus Blue Jackets come to town with 3-10 record and desperate to get back on track. The Florida Panthers come next and although they’re 5-4-2 overall, they have lost two in a row and look lost without the ageless one Jaromir Jagr. Pacific Division rival Arizona Coyotes come in next and the Kings will look to dish out payback after the ‘Yotes spoiled the season opener for L.A. back in early October. In three starts against the Coyotes last season, Jonathan Quick posted a 1.62 GAA and .939 save percentage which is absolutely stingy. If Quick can solve their young wingers, it should spell victory for the Kings. Jeff Carter will also continue his offensive hot streak, as he’s scored three goals and four points in his past 4 games against the Coyotes.

The Kings will face a true test next, however, as the New York Islanders and John Tavares come to town. The Islanders have exploded out of the gate and have accrued 17 points through their first 13 games. The Isles are not only playoff contenders, but they might actually be Stanley Cup contenders this season, and the Kings will have to rely on their defense to stop the offensive skill of Tavares, Kyle Okposo and company. The Edmonton Oilers, sans all-world rookie Connor McDavid, will finish out the five-game homestand for the Kings, which they have also dominated in seasons past. Dating back to last season, the Kings are 4-1-1 against the Oilers, scoring 26 goals in that six-game stretch. McDavid has really re-energized this Edmonton team, and there’s no doubt his absence will certainly be felt in the room and on the ice in Edmonton.

After this winnable home stretch the Kings will hit the road for a five-game Eastern Conference trip. They’ll open in the City of Brotherly Love against the Philadelphia Flyers, who are always tough at home no matter what their record is. Last season they were an impressive 23-11-7 at the Wells Fargo Center, and this season will be no different. After the Flyers, the Kings travel to the motor city to take on the young superstars of the Detroit Red Wings. Rookie forward Dylan Larkin has been as good if not better than advertised, and he’ll look to carry the torch passed on from aging superstars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Larkin has nine points through his first 12 games played. Next the Kings travel to Raleigh to take on the Carolina Hurricanes, who Quick shut out at Staples Center earlier this season, before finishing out their road trip in Florida taking on both the Panthers and reigning Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning. The Kings will finish out their November schedule with a home date against the Blackhawks, which is always a grinding physical contest. The Kings played well at the United Center just a few days ago but were unable to hold a 2-1 lead, eventually falling 4-2 to the reigning Stanley Cup champs.

One of the biggest cliches in hockey is that it’s always easier to earn points in the beginning of the season rather than later in the spring. Last season, the Kings went 6-4-2 in the month of November, and while that’s not abysmal, to think that they missed the playoffs by only two points a year ago is certainly revealing in terms of the value of games early in the season. If they can continue the hot streak they’ve been on so far this season, it will go a long way in paving out a path for their return to the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The season is still in it’s infantile stages, but the Kings don’t want to put themselves in a hole similar to last season. Their November play will go a long way in proving that they are a much more complete team and capable of competing for the Stanley Cup.