Finding Ways to Win: Kings Coming Together

Coming off that crushing 5-1 loss at home by the San Jose Sharks (1/19), the Kings went into their home game against the Sabres winners of only 6 of their last 15, and proud owners of a midseason slump. It was in that Buffalo game, however, that the Kings found a way to win: down 3-2 in the 3rd period, forcing overtime, and winning 4-3 in the shootout.

It’s that “finding a way to win” stuff that has taken the Kings from their midseason slump of 6-9 to a 6-game win streak – including a franchise record 5-game win streak on the road.

So awesome!

It wasn’t long ago at all that LA was flirting with 8th place – falling out of playoff contention,on random nights, depending on the standings.

Now the Kings are sitting pretty in 5th place, only two points behind Phoenix for 2nd place in the Pacific.

So sweet!

It wasn’t easy either – ripping off 5 straight away from home – which makes sitting at 5th feel even better.

The streak began in Detroit – where the Kings had only 1 win in the last decade. The Kings quickly found themselves down a couple of goals before fighting back to a 3-2 victory. They had fought adversity just a couple of days before and found a way to achieve only their 2nd victory at Joe Louis in ages.

All of a sudden the Kings looked much better than they had in the weeks prior. This is how good the Kings can play night in and night out. They began playing tough again.

It was that tough play that led them to pretty easy victories at Toronto (5-3) and Columbus (4-1).

However, it wasn’t long before adversity would find it’s way back to the Kings.

In Boston, down 2-1, it was Anze willing his team to tie the game up at two a piece. 90 shootout attempts later, Jarret Stoll scored the final blow on Tim Thomas. Once again, the Kings had found a way to pull it out in the end and send themselves to New Jersey new owners of a 5-game win streak.

The only problem was that adversity had hopped on the same flight.

The Kings found themselves at the end of this road trip in the same position they began it: down 2-0 in a hostile environment – but if they could do it in Detroit, then they can win anywhere, right?

And win they did!

Michael Handzus made it interesting with under 30 seconds left in the 2nd period (McFlurries!) by scoring his 11th goal of the season. Surely the Kings would take this newfound momentum into the locker room.

Unfortunately, they forget to bring it back out on the ice.

The Devils continued to harass the Kings in the 3rd period, but couldn’t find a way past the stingy Jonathan Quick. It was Quick’s toughness that allowed the Kings to keep fighting. Surely enough, with under 2 minutes to play, the Kings scored twice (Simmonds, Doughty) to go up 3-2 and seal the best road streak in franchise history.

It was a great ending to a troubling game, but once again the Kings found a way to win – the key to this win streak that couldn’t come at a better time.

"You get five wins on the road at this time of the year with the desperation that everyone is playing with and it's pretty remarkable the way we have dug in. This game was a real good look at the kind of team we are starting to become, a lot of character, big heart, never gave up.”

Terry Murray’s right. His Kings are finding their identity slowly, but surely.

Good teams know how to fight off opponents while ahead. Great teams find ways to make water into wine.