Following a 3-2 loss to the Florida Panthers back on February 5th, the Los Angeles Kings were 21-18-12 and on the outside looking in at the postseason party. The Kings are not your average hockey team though. All they have done since is win seven straight games and now hold one of the automatic playoff spots.
This is a team that never panics, they trust their system, they trust each other and find ways to win. This is a team that came back from a 3-0 series deficit and defeated the San Jose Sharks in last year's playoffs. Adversity is nothing new for these Kings.
During the streak they given up two goals or less in five of the seven games. Five of the games were against teams that were in the playoffs at the time of the match ups. All seven wins have come in regulation and two of the wins were against division opponents who are also fighting for their playoff lives.
The Kings are a team no one wants to play come postseason time. They have proven in the past all you need to do is get in. Right now, they are proving why they are the defending champions.
Wildfire
As great as L.A. is playing right now they are not the hottest team since the All Star break. That distinction belongs to the Minnesota Wild. Lead by new goaltender Devan Dubnyk, Minnesota is 11-1-1 since the festivities in Columbus and have worked their way back into a playoff spot.
During the 13 game stretch, Minnesota has outscored their opponents 40-19. Dubnyk has started each of the last 17 games and is 13-2-1 since being acquired from Arizona. He boasts a .936 save percentage and a 1.64 goals against average with five shutouts for the Wild.
Zach Parise has come alive of late as well. He has points in seven of the last eleven games and leads the team in goals (25) and points (46). Parise, Dubnyk and the rest of the Wild will need to keep up the strong play if they hope to hold onto their spot in the postseason party.
New York Metropolitan Area
No one was sure what to expect when Henrik Lundqvist went on the shelf for an undisclosed period of time. Losing a star goaltender is often times a crippling blow to a team. All the New York Rangers have done is catch and pass the Pittsburgh Penguins for second place in the Metropolitan division standings.
Cam Talbot has been stellar in Lundqvist's absence. He is 6-1-2 as the starter and the team is 7-1-2 overall since the injury. Rick Nash continues to go head to head with Alexander Ovechkin in the race for the goal scoring title and Martin St. Louis has points in four the past seven games.
The recent surge dating back to before the injury to Lundqvist has the Rangers in second place just two points behind the New York Islanders. There is good news for the "Broadway Blueshirts" as Hank has begun both cardio and on ice workouts within the last week.
League Leaders through 2/22/15
Goals – Ovechkin (38)
Assists – Backstrom (46)
Points – Kane, Backstrom (64)
Plus Minus – Pacioretty (+33)
Wins – Rinne (34)
Goals Against – Price (1.91)
Save Percentage – Price (.935)
Shutouts – Fleury (8)
Bill Minchin is a contributing writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow Bill on Twitter @wtfd103074
