Game 82 is finally here, the Los Angeles Kings end their regular season at home on Thursday against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Both players and coaches have talked about the importance of feeling good about your game heading into game 83, but a few lackluster performances in the last week suggest the Kings aren't feeling good about theirs.
To try and rectify that a little, head coach Jim Hiller looks to be experimenting with his lines a bit.
Over the last two days, he's shown the same lines, with only Alex Turcotte and Akil Thomas swapping after the latter was sent down.
It's also worth noting that on Wednesday Anze Kopitar's line went through rushes as the first line.
Of course, who is listed as what line doesn't really matter once the game starts. Hiller likes to switch things up in-game and shorten his bench, but the way these lines are set out isn't irrelevant either.
This looks like a team that's still trying to find their best lineup and the best use of their players in game 82.
There are a few different ways to look at these lines too. There are some positives right off the hop.
Regardless of where they're listed, a Quinton Byfield, Dubois, Alex Turcotte line is exciting and has the chance to do some real damage.
It allows Byfield to take on a bigger role, gives Dubois a backseat and Turcotte can provide some always-needed energy.
This also gives the Kings quite a bit of depth, spreading out their talent through the lineup.
Byfield and Dubois have shown some chemistry together in the past, as has Alex Laferriere with the top line.
There's reason to believe these lines can be a success.
There are also some negatives to these lines though.
Kevin Fiala's placement is one of the biggest negatives. With respect to Blake Lizotte and Trevor Lewis, having Fiala, the team's most talented forward, playing with them isn't the best use of his talents.
Yes, he did plenty of damage with Lizotte last season, but that was mostly with Gabe Vilardi on the other flank.
Lewis still has some strengths, but Vilardi he is not.
Even if it is just on paper, having your $8.5 million, supposed missing piece on the fourth line isn't a good look.
Hiller shouldn't make decisions based on optics, which is why Dubois should be playing wing, but it can't do much for Dubois' confidence, or the fan's confidence in Dubois.
These lines feel like a team with plenty of good players and no idea how to properly use them. A team that was built without much thought in how the pieces would fit together.
Hiller did say that these lines were put together with a potential playoff matchup in mind.
So, maybe the thought is matching the Dallas Stars or Edmonton Oilers' depth with their own. However, I would still be worried about the high-end talent on both teams running the Kings' top-end over.
Maybe these lines work out great, maybe they're blown up again once Carl Grundstrom comes back, and maybe they're a disaster and the Kings lose to the Blackhawks on Thursday.
Until the puck drops Thursday night, we won't know. Really, until the puck drops for game 83 we won't know how well these lines work.
The Kings need these changes to get both Byfield and Dubois going, if it does, an upset could be on the horizon.
If not, the more pessimistic Kings fans will be proven correct.