Scouting the Playoff Race: Los Angeles Kings

Building off the previous scouting report of the Minnesota Wild, the Los Angeles Kings are getting the same treatment. With the Kings tied with the Vegas Golden Knights in the Pacific Division standings (77 points each), the race is going down to the wire.

Before the Vegas Golden Knights made their presence felt in the NHL, the Kings were the premier team on the West Coast. They were stingy defensively, with a nice forecheck and a knack for creating turnovers with ease. That's how they won two Stanley Cups during the 2010s era (2012, 2014).

Let's explore how Vegas can leapfrog Los Angeles in the standings. What will cause trouble for Hollywood's hockey team? What advantages do they have that the Golden Knights should be worried about? Here's a deeper dive into the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference race.

1. The Case for the Los Angeles Kings

There are few teams that defend well like the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings are stingy on the penalty kill (NHL-best 86.5%), making them a special teams force. They're also tough to score on, putting up great defensive efforts in most games. For example, Los Angeles is third in the NHL in average goals allowed (2.60), tied for sixth in team save percentage (.912), and tied for fourth in team shutouts (5).

Goaltender Cam Talbot (2.49 GAA, .916 save percentage in 42 games) has seen a renaissance this season. His crease composure got Los Angeles out of tough times, winning them some games in the process.

For a team that fired their head coach mid-season, the Kings are holding up nicely in the playoff race. They play smart hockey, letting their opponents make mistakes before capitalizing. That's where Los Angeles makes their goals, sitting back and generating pressure on their opponents.

2. The Case Against the Los Angeles Kings

While their penalty kill has been phenomenal, the power play has been underwhelming. The Los Angeles Kings convert 21.6% of their power play chances, which is pedestrian. This is something the Vegas Golden Knights know all too well, especially in their team history.

In fact, you can say the same about the Kings offensively as a unit (3.02 GF/G, 9.1 shooting percentage). Even on five-on-five, they need an additional forward or two to compete with the bigger teams. Los Angeles is smaller compared to teams like the Golden Knights or Edmonton Oilers, which can be problematic if the game becomes too physical. The average height for a Kings player is 73.1 inches. The Kings might have some bulk to make up for it (average weight is 201.9 lbs). However, there's some speed sacrificed along the way, making matters tougher.

3. Any Former Vegas Golden Knights on the Kings?

As it stands, none are on the active roster. Many players on the Los Angeles Kings were developed through their farm system, including Anze Kopitar, Alex Turcotte, and Adrian Kempe. As a result, the Kings have younger talent with more upside.

However, there have been plenty of former Kings that are currently playing or have played on the Vegas Golden Knights. That includes Alec Martinez (who's won two additional Stanley Cups with the Kings) and Michael Amadio. In fact, the Golden Knights acquired former Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick from the Columbus Blue Jackets in last season's Stanley Cup run.