The Los Angeles Kings face a daunting prospect: a fourth consecutive playoff series against the Edmonton Oilers in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This recurring matchup, which began with a hard-fought seven-game series in 2021-22, presents a significant challenge for the Kings, who are aiming to overcome their recent playoff struggles.
Power Play Unit Remains Los Angeles Kings Achilles Heel
Despite a respectable offensive output, averaging 2.93 goals per game, the Kings’ power play unit has been a glaring weakness. This is particularly perplexing given the presence of established stars like Drew Doughty, Anze Kopitar, Kevin Fiala, and Adrian Kempe.
The Kings’ power play conversion rate of 16.7 percent is alarmingly low, ranking among the league’s worst and significantly lower than their previous seasons’ performance.
The reasons for this decline are multifaceted. Kopitar’s recent scoring surge, while positive, followed a period of relatively low production. Similarly, Kempe and Fiala, who have been consistent point-per-game contributors in recent years, have experienced dips in their offensive output.
While the Kings have managed to win games despite their power-play woes, this deficiency is likely to be exposed in the playoffs. The Edmonton Oilers, with their potent offense and a power play unit ranked eighth in the league, will capitalize on any special teams’ shortcomings.
The Kings’ inability to improve their power play could prove to be their undoing, potentially leading to a fourth consecutive first-round exit. The stark contrast in special teams’ performance between the two teams highlights a critical area of concern for Los Angeles.