Los Angeles Kings Face Challenges Amidst Playoff Push
The Los Angeles Kings have encountered a rough patch in their current NHL season, losing 12 of their last 14 games. Despite the recent downturn, they remain competitive in the standings, holding onto fourth place in the Pacific Division and securing the first wild card spot for the playoffs from the Western Conference.
This streak of losses comes at a critical juncture as the team is about to embark on a challenging schedule, with seven of their next eight games to be played away from home. The road ahead will test the Kings' resilience and ability to bounce back under pressure.
Coaching Tenure and Support
Head coach Todd McLellan is navigating his fifth season with the Kings and has recently been granted a contract extension through the 2024-25 season. This show of confidence from the organization underscores the belief in McLellan's vision and coaching philosophy despite the team's current struggles.
General Manager Rob Blake has expressed unwavering support for McLellan, indicating that the franchise understands the complexities of the sport and recognizes the need for stability at the helm. McLellan himself has taken responsibility for the team's performance, acknowledging the stark contrast between their strong start and recent difficulties.
"I'm responsible for this. And when you looked at the team that played the first, what would we call it, 25, 30 games if you will, it doesn't look like the team that's playing right now. And I'm responsible for it," McLellan stated, reflecting on the team's trajectory this season.
In response to the challenges faced, McLellan has been proactive, experimenting with various strategies to ignite a turnaround: "Our staff is doing what we can or what we believe we can to get them to turn it around. We're trying different things at different times. But I'm going to keep pushing away. I'm going to try and push buttons, poke people, praise people, look at how we do things."
Underlying Performance Metrics
The Kings' underlying numbers, which often give a more nuanced view of a team's performance than the win-loss record alone, suggest that the team possesses the potential to perform better than their recent outcomes indicate. McLellan addressed this discrepancy, saying, "Our numbers -- our underlying numbers -- say we're more the first-half team than the second-half team, but the winning column doesn't say that, and that's all that matters. So, it's a very fair question."
Player Accountability and Team Effort
Team captain Anze Kopitar emphasized the role of player performance in conjunction with coaching, highlighting the importance of execution on the ice: "I mean, it comes down to this room. They give us a plan, they give us the structure, the motivation or the kick in the [rear end]. It is what it is, but it's about the guys that have to bring it out on the ice and make things happen."
Defenseman Drew Doughty echoed this sentiment, stressing the necessity of collective effort and selflessness among his teammates: "We feel that every single player on this team needs to give 100-percent effort. And you're not going to have your best stuff every night, but if we all give our 100-percent effort, we're a good enough team."
Doughty further articulated the Kings' approach to success, focusing on unity and teamwork over individual accolades: "If we play together, we're going to win games, so you don't need one player to be the best player on the ice every single night. That's not the way we win games. We win games as a play, collectively and playing for the team."
The Kings' recent homestand ended with a 1-2-1 record, a result that adds urgency to their upcoming series of road games. However, the team can draw confidence from their track record of making the playoffs in each of the past two seasons, suggesting a capacity to overcome adversity.
As the Kings prepare to hit the road, the combination of strategic adjustments by the coaching staff, the continued support of the management, and the players' commitment to collective excellence will be pivotal in determining whether the team can steer back into the winning column and solidify their playoff aspirations.