The Pacific Division has been a battleground this season, with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Edmonton Oilers vying for the top spot. The Los Angeles Kings, with their potential to shake up the standings, are adding an extra layer of excitement to the competition.

The Kings are three points behind Edmonton for second and five from Vegas at first. LA has two games in hand to Edmonton but will go back to being three tonight as they play the Tampa Bay Lightning. For the Kings and their home heavy schedule for the rest of the season, it's a glimer of opportunity.

The Kings will play many games at home for the rest of the year. With a 19-3-2 record at home, the numbers suggest that the Kings could make a legitimate run at the Pacific Division title or at least not finish third for the fourth year in a row.

Per Jim Hiller, they won't be standings watching until it gets much closer, though he admitted that assistant coach DJ Smith reminds him of it every day. Who could blame the staff, and Hiller particularly? He's been here for all the lows, including his first-ever playoff appearance as a head coach: a brief five-game set against a much better team.

If this season is a reflection or lesson for anyone who follows the team, is that home ice might be a factor to consider come the end of Spring. The Kings have established themselves as the best home team in the NHL. With their 11-7 deployment and matchup nightmare at home, this could change dramatically come the trade deadline.

Home matchups have seen the rise of Quinton Byfield, but truthfully, he broke out in a serious way while in New York. Byfield has proven to be able to handle top matchups. The problem is that when he was on the top matchup grind, the team went on a scoring drought, reflecting the need to upgrade the forward group, for which the trigger has not been pulled yet.

The top line has sagged, and the Phillip Danault line was not producing. The Kings make the switch with Warren Foegele and Kevin Fiala, and they've broken through an offensive stupor. With Danault, Foegele, and Moore engaged and acting as a true shutdown line, the Kings have cultivated a go-to line with Byfield.

Maintaining this grouping while getting the Kopitar line going again will be key to galvanizing as many points down the stretch as possible. The Kings will also likely make a move towards the deadline to contend and possibly win themselves the Pacific.

Home ice advantage just might be in the works.