Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Wild, Wild West

Not much has changed in the last month. Only 4 points still separate 5th-10th place in the Western Conference. At one point last week, all of the Pacific Division teams were in the playoffs! That's incredible. As of today, there are roughly 10-games left in the season and the Kings have nothing but Western Conference games on the schedule, and 6 of those are Divisional games. I've never seen such a pre-playoff atmosphere in early March and the schedule guarantees important games down the stretch.
 
The Kings are 2-games from 11th place in the West and missing the Playoffs. However, the Kings are also 2-games from locking in 3rd Place and "jumping the Sharks". It's completely in their own hands. Being behind Phoenix by one point, LA has a head-to-head game and a game in hand. The Kings can pass the Coyotes and keep it that way. Also, passing the Sharks is in their power. The Kings still have 3 dates with the predatory fish and two of those are at home. That's six points San Jose can't get back. A sweep would vault the Kings past the Sharks. So, a BIG game against San Jose this Thursday!
 
The bottom line is that the LAKings need to keep Dory's song from Finding Nemo in their heads, "Just keep winning, just keep winning.." (Well, it's close enough).

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