The Los Angeles Kings head into their second-of-three games on this current road trip taking on the St. Louis Blues.

Last season, the Kings went 1-1-1 against the Blues, but outscored St. Louis by a combined score of 9-8.

The Kings are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Dallas Stars, yesterday. This season, the Kings have done well in the second game of a back-to-back with a 5-2-1 record.

Since returning from the season break, the Blues have earned points in all-four games they’ve played, recording three wins and an overtime loss.

The Kings and the Blues will face one another three times beginning today through next Saturday (March 8, 2025).

For the Kings, this season’s series against the Blues couldn’t have come at a better time. Instead of spreading out these matchups over the eighty-two game Regular Season, this old school hockey scheduling format will act as a playoff simulation for both clubs.

After today’s contest, the Kings will head to Chicago to face the Blackhawks on Monday. If I were Kings Head Coach Jim Hiller, I’d be telling my team to pretend the black, red, and white Chicago jerseys are blue, yellow, and white St. Louis jerseys.

What I mean to say is: Approach these next four games like you would a playoff series. Two on the road, two at home.

In a perfect world, the Kings would win all-four of their upcoming games. Personally, I'd be happy if LA picks up the next two road games, in regulation, while splitting their home matchups against the Blues, next week.

Why would I advocate for losing games, particularly at Crypto.com Arena? It’s quite simple… I fear the Kings could get complacent at home.

When the playoffs come around, the Kings are going to need to win games on the road because they will lose games at home. It's inevitable.

This test against the Blues (and Blackhawks) over the next week should be approached as its own subset of games during the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season. These are not three of the eighty-two Regular Season games; these are pre-Playoff games.

That doesn’t mean the Kings need to repeat their 4-0 sweep against the Blues like they did in the second round of the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. But they will need to be sharp, focused, and detailed.

Puck drop is slated for 5:05 PM PST. You can watch the game via KCAL or listen live with the ESPN LA app.

Photo Credit: © Perry Nelson-Imagn Images