Kings Will Either Face Dallas of Edmonton in the First Round
The Los Angeles Kings have one game left in their season, and it is a big one. This game will determine where they place in the Western Conference and who they will face in the first round.
The Kings and Vegas Golden Knights are battling it out for the last spot in the Pacific Division. If the Golden Knights win their last game against the Anaheim Ducks, they will secure the third spot in the aforementioned division. This would mean the Kings would slide down to the second wild card position and take on the Dallas Stars.
Now, if the Golden Knights lose the game against the Ducks and then the Kings win their last game against the Chicago Blackhawks, then the Kings lock up the third spot in the Pacific. This will set up the Kings versus Edmonton Oilers for the third straight playoffs.
Which team will the Kings fare better against in the postseason? While neither matchup is ideal, the Kings should fair better against the Oilers than the Stars.
Dallas has been a powerhouse in the West for the bulk of the season. They are widely considered to be one of the best teams in the NHL, and with the Kings on the lower end of that scale based on teams that have made the playoffs, the Stars would most likely make quick work of them.
As for the Oilers, they are the weaker opponent of the two and give the Kings the best path to make it to the second round. Edmonton has been streaky this season and this could be the Kings' biggest advantage heading into the potential first-round series.
Whichever team the Kings play, they will need to come into the series focused and try to limit their mistakes. Unfortunately, they will be the underdog in both series, but as all sports fans have seen in the past, it is more than possible to eliminate a team as the underdog, so don't count out the Kings just yet.