EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Welcome to the home of the Los Angeles Kings.
As the Edmonton Oilers arrive in Los Angeles for a crucial divisional game late in the season, the Kings, strong on their home ice, are eager for a victory.
On Saturday afternoon, all eyes in Los Angeles will be on the Kings as they face the Oilers. This game is more than just another match; it`s about securing home-ice advantage for a potential first-round playoff series and keeping pressure on Vegas for the Pacific Division lead.
However, this game carries extra weight. The Oilers have eliminated the Kings from the playoffs for the past three years and are again standing in the way of the Kings advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
The Kings last playoff series win was in the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Since then, they`ve made the playoffs five times, losing to Edmonton in three of those appearances.
Now, the Kings are strategizing once more on how to defeat an Oilers team that has knocked them out in the previous three post-seasons.
Oilers winger Viktor Arvidsson, who previously played for the Kings, mentioned that when facing Edmonton in the playoffs, the focus in the Kings` locker room heavily shifts to stopping Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
“A lot of the focus goes to Connor and Leon, and trying to stop them,” Arvidsson noted. “They have to play a tight defensive game, but I think we have a lot more skill than they do. It`s definitely going to be a tough series if we play them.”
Despite the playoff series being weeks away, this game is significant. The Oilers are just two points behind the Kings in the Pacific Division standings with two games left between them. The Kings boast the best defensive record in the NHL and the league`s best home-ice win percentage at .833.
A win against the weakened Oilers on Saturday could significantly solidify home-ice advantage for the first round. With key Oilers players like Leon Draisaitl, Connor McDavid, and others sidelined, the Kings recognize an opportunity.
However, Trent Frederic might debut for the Oilers after his trade from Boston.
“I’m excited to play whenever I get the chance,” Frederic stated after practice. “They`re always a tough, defensive team. It’s going to be a hard-fought game.”
When asked if this was his kind of game, Frederic responded positively, seeing it as a good opportunity for his potential Oilers debut.
Frederic practiced with Adam Henrique and Zach Hyman. Coach Kris Knoblauch remained reserved about Frederic`s debut but acknowledged his potential appearance given the team`s need for forwards.
Knoblauch emphasized the team`s recent performance, highlighting their attention to detail, grit, improved power play, and discipline.
Arvidsson acknowledged the absence of key players but pointed out the positive aspect of other players gaining confidence and opportunity.
Confidence is key, and both teams aim to leave Saturday`s game with more of it. The Kings believe it’s their time to triumph.
Tristan Blackwood