Can the Kings break the trend of early playoff exits? If they face the Edmonton Oilers again, what needs to change for a different outcome?

The Kings can break the trend of early playoff exits, that's a possibility for sure. In order to do that, the Kings need a reliable Goaltender who can remain calm and steady in playoff mode. Far too often, their goalie "wobbles" under pressure. At the end of the 2023-24 season, LA Kings Insider Zach Dooley noted, "[a]s it comes to the playoffs, I think that [Cam] Talbot’s play was certainly not where he would have liked it to be, but he was also far from the only player who might say that from the five-game exit. At the end of the day, the Kings conceded 17 goals in Games 1-3 with Talbot in net." Kuemper has been in the league for over a decade and has won a Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022. Therefore, he is seen as a veteran netminder who has winning experience. - Sharlette Shahbazyan

It's not likely. I, for one, am not buying that stock. The Kings will likely land a depth player by the deadline, like Forward Jake Evans, who won't thread the needle against a team as formulaic as the Oilers. Even if they find a way to pull off a trade to get Forwards Brock Boeser or Alex Tuch (which is very unlikely without mortgaging the team's future), are those players bringing the type of elite game-breaking skills to move past the reigning Western Conference champions? Maybe the Oilers win the Pacific Division and the Kings face the Golden Knights instead. Which do you prefer to be beaten with: the bat or the wrench? - Connor Doyle

It’s certainly possible they get past the Oilers, it’s just not probable. Edmonton knows how to beat LA and, quite frankly, the Kings haven’t changed enough from the last three meetings to surprise the Oilers in any way. What needs to change? The Byfield line will have to create actual matchup issues instead of theoretical ones and the penalty kill needs to be at least 75% successful. Both are easier said than done. However, if the matchup is Vegas, I believe the Kings will be a very tough out for the Golden Knights. In fact, I would say I like LA’s chances as I’ve long felt that the Kings match up very well against VGK. - Karo Blikian

Yes, the Kings can break that trend and do so quite easily. All they need to do is not cheat the game. That's it. The Hockey Gods will reward them for their efforts if they play Kings hockey. Remember, LA took Edmonton to a Game 7. They were one win away from this three-year skid narrative never existing. One more win. That's all that needs to change. - Keith Fries