It likely doesn’t come as much a surprise to most hockey fans to see the LA Kings atop the Pacific Division nearly halfway through the season.
The two-time champions were generally expected to bounce back after a down 2014-15 season. What might surprise people is that a division title would only be the franchise’s second. Despite this being the Kings 48th season, the 1990-91 campaign was the only one that ended with the Kings atop a division.
And with an eight-point lead, games in hand and seemingly no forthcoming challengers, they seem almost assured to win a second title this year.
The Ducks are unbelievably in last place, with seemingly everything going wrong for them. The Flames and Oilers have played better of late, but are no serious threat. The Canucks are nine points back despite having played three more games than LA (and also aren’t very good). The Coyotes are already regressing. The Sharks are the biggest threat to make a run, but even they have a negative goal differential and haven’t seemed especially dangerous. The Pacific is a tire fire and the Kings are the only fully-functioning NHL team.
So while it’s never really a good idea to make declarations this early in the season, it seems basically assured the Kings will win the Pacific this year.
With 42 points in 32 games, LA is on pace for roughly 107 points, or 12 more than they had last season. And they’ve done it…by basically being the same team they’ve been for years.
The Kings dominate possession (they’re first or second in fenwick close just about every year), shut opposing offenses down and use a physical style to wear down the opposition. Last year’s dip in performance was more of an aberration than anything. The biggest difference between this year and last has been the performance in overtime. Last year, the Kings went 3-15 in the extra period. So far this year, they’re 7-2. It’s difficult to know whether the Kings are better suited for the three-on-three format or their success is just statistical noise. But the seven wins are in the bank.
In further good news for Kings fans, the team hasn’t had much shooting luck thus far, so positive regression in that department is to be expected. This iteration of LA has generally been a below-average shooting squad. But this year’s rate – 5.6 percent at even-strength – lower than it’s ever been. There’s no real reason it should have fallen this year. Marion Gaborik and Tanner Pearson among others have struggled to put the puck in the net. As the springs of 2012 and 2014 showed us, the Kings are pretty much unbeatable when they get even a modicum of shooting luck.
The special teams have been solid. They’re the best possession team in every meaningful situation. Jon Quick has been good and backup Jhonas Enroth has been even better. Anze Kopitar is Anze Kopitar.
With just some average shooting luck, the Kings could become the San Francisco Giants of hockey – an even year behemoth. If all goes well, LA could pull off the absurd accomplishment of winning a third Stanley Cup before winning a third division title.
