If the Los Angeles Kings can take care of business tonight against the St. Louis Blues, they will have a one-point lead over the Nashville Predators for the final playoff spot.
The Los Angeles Kings once again have a chance to move up in the standings and secure the final playoff spot over the Nashville Predators.
The Kings continue their seven-game home stand tonight against the St. Louis Blues, after three days of rest, facing a Blues team that's playing its third game in five nights. There's no excuse for Los Angeles not to win tonight and get back in the wild-card spot.
Los Angeles is tied with the Winnipeg Jets at 76 points, and both are just one point behind Nashville for the final playoff spot. The Jets' recent hot stretch, winning four of their last five games, now adds another team that Los Angeles should be worried about spoiling their hopes of making the playoffs.
Four of the next eight games for Los Angeles will be must-win situations against the Western Conference teams that they're competing with to make the playoffs. Tonight against the Blues, tomorrow and next week against the Predators, and Edmonton and Seattle coming up on the horizon.
Those games in their final eight regular-season contests will directly determine who advances to the postseason. With the way Los Angeles has been playing recently, there is no hope on their side of winning these crucial games, but this can be a great opportunity for the Kings to prove their doubters wrong and end the season strong.
This will be a good test for Los Angeles to see what they are dealing with, if and when they can make the playoffs, likely against the Colorado Avalanche at this point, who will be a tough challenge in the first round.
A win could help them create separation from Winnipeg, Seattle, San Jose, and Nashville, but it could also give the team some confidence when facing a potential playoff opponent.
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