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The Los Angeles Kings finished their road trip off strong, picking up back-to-back wins this weekend and clinching a playoff spot in the process.
Against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday, we saw a pretty even game. The Kings only actually managed 19 shots on goal throughout the contest, but they also really didn’t give up much at all to the Kraken. After going up in the second period, the Kings got an insurance goal from Carl Grundstrom early in the third, to extend the lead to 2-0. While the Kraken did get one back on a power play, Los Angeles held on, with Kevin Fiala adding an empty netter late for a 3-1 final.
Then facing the Vancouver Canucks yesterday, the Kings came out with a pretty slow opening frame, being outshot 13-5, but managed to escape at a 1-1 draw through 20 minutes. However, they pulled ahead in a low-event middle frame after a second goal from Alex Iafallo, before coming out with their best period of the game in the third period to earn a 4-1 victory. The Kings' penalty kill was key as well, going 4-for-4 and coming up with a couple big kills in the third period.
While the Kings didn’t give up much in either game, you have to credit the team's goaltending, as Joonas Korpisalo and Pheonix Copley continue to be rock solid. The Kings have allowed two regulation goals or less in 14 of their last 15 games and Korpisalo specifically has now posted a .937 save percentage through eight games with Los Angeles.
With the wins, the Kings still only went 2-2-0 on the road trip, but the two prior losses could also be classified as relatively strong outings overall. With the win in Vancouver in particular, the Kings clinched a playoff spot for the second year in a row.
Checking in on the Pacific Division though, the race remains extremely interesting. The Vegas Golden Knights still hold top spot (101 points), with one game in hand on both the Kings (100 points) and Edmonton Oilers (99 points). Vegas plays the Minnesota Wild tonight and a regulation loss would mean the three teams remain within two points of one another with only five games remaining.
As for the Kings’ next two games this week: they come against none other than the Oilers tomorrow, then the Golden Knights on Thursday. There’s still a path here for the Kings to win the division, and it’s going to be quite the important series of games.
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