The Kings concluded their second seven-game road trip with an identical record of 3-2-2 to their first seven-game road trip to start the season. In the last four games of this road trip, they managed a record of 1-1-2, which many would describe as a point-accruing slide. This slide comes at an inopportune time, as the Kings were once close to overtaking the Vegas Golden Knights for first place in the Pacific Division but now find themselves in third behind the Edmonton Oilers. Both the Oilers and the Golden Knights have become two of the hottest teams in the league, with matching records of 8-2-0 over their last ten games. Behind them, the Kings maintain just a two-point cushion over the struggling Vancouver Canucks. However, the Kings now find themselves in an opportunistic position with a massive game up next. Their upcoming schedule sets up an early season showdown against the Oilers on Saturday, a chance to leapfrog them right after the break. The Oilers have benefited from the return of former King Viktor Arvidsson, who contributed to their recent 3-1 victory over the strong Ottawa Senators by scoring off a great pass from Connor McDavid. The Oilers once again are getting non-human-like contributions from their two-headed beast in McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. While the Oilers are getting healthier, the Kings are struggling with injuries. They are without Drew Doughty, who is expected to return in January, and they also miss Trevor Moore, Trevor Lewis, and Phillip Danault, who was a surprise scratch in their recent game against the Washington Capitals, with his status unclear. Although it's premature to focus too heavily on the standings when the halfway mark of the season hasn’t been reached, this situation highlights the Kings' historical struggles when finishing 2nd or 3rd in their division and eventually facing the Oilers in the first round. The Oilers have eliminated the Kings for three consecutive seasons, consistently overpowering LA in their quest for a championship. Avoiding a fourth straight matchup with the Oilers would be ideal for the Kings, but ultimately, they control their own fate, regardless of their lineup challenges. Doughty’s eventual return will provide a significant boost to the team, even with a respectable record of 19-10-5 maintained without their franchise defenseman. Despite their defensive corps appearing shaky on paper, they have proven to be one of the most effective in the league [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/kings-defense-has-thrived-despite-matt-roys-departure]. This includes the development of young players like Brandt Clarke and Jordan Spence, who will benefit from Doughty's ability to handle tougher minutes. The rise of Alex Turcotte and Alex Laferriere could make Trevor Moore expendable. Laferriere has already surpassed his previous career high of 12 goals this year and was even trusted to play center against the Capitals in Danault's absence. Meanwhile, Turcotte has solidified his spot as a top-line winger alongside Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe, and the trio seems to be unlocking the next phase of Turcotte's career. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/los-angeles-kings/latest-news/alex-turcotte-has-arrived] There won't be an easy path moving forward for these Kings. They currently lack the extra firepower to be considered a legitimate long-term threat to win the division. Combined with two excellent teams competing above them in the division and the potential resurgence of the Canucks, the Kings are in a precarious position as they head into the holiday break. Their games against division rivals will be essential to watch as the season progresses. THNWeek1222KeithFries
