If the Los Angeles Kings hope to get over the first-round hump in the upcoming playoffs, they’ll need their best players to be at their best.
Beginning with Thursday’s matchup against the visiting Anaheim Ducks, the Kings have five games remaining before the start of postseason. They have clinched a berth.
Los Angeles (44-24-9, 97 points) is still battling it out with Edmonton for second place in the Pacific Division, but it’s almost certain the Kings will open the playoffs against the Oilers. Edmonton has eliminated Los Angeles in the first round in each of the past three seasons.
Kevin Fiala is one of those who seems poised for a strong postseason.
The left wing scored his 30th goal of the season on Saturday night in a 3-0 win against the visiting Oilers. It is second time in his career that he’s reached the 30-goal mark.
It hasn’t been a spotless season for Fiala, who was a healthy scratch in a 4-2 loss at the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 29 because he overslept and missed a team meeting when his alarm failed to sound.
He had been benched during the third period on Oct. 26 after picking up two minor penalties against the Utah Hockey Club, giving him five penalties in a five-game stretch.
“The season’s probably aged both him and I, to be honest with you,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “I hope it ages both in a good way. He’s playing his best. I’m going to say over the last week, he’s played as well as I’ve seen him play.”
The Kings continue to try to nurse defensemen Drew Doughty back to 100 percent.
Doughty missed the first 47 games this season after fracturing his ankle in the preseason. He was held out of the 2-1 loss to the Seattle Kraken on Monday after missing the final 7:46 of the third period in the win against the Oilers two nights earlier.
“Drew is the same as he always is,” Hiller said. “We’ve got to give him a little time.”
The Ducks (35-35-8. 78 points) are playing the role of spoiler for the seventh straight season. They’re coming off a 4-3 win against Calgary on Wednesday night that put a dent in the Flames’ playoff hopes.
Cutter Gauthier is putting together a spectacular end to his rookie season.
Gauthier has scored two goals in each of the past two games, including the tying goal and overtime winner on Wednesday. He has 19 goals on the season.
“Just trying to shoot as much as I can,” said Gauthier, who will become the fifth player on the Ducks to hit 20 goals if he can score in the final four games.
“Coach has been harping on that we won’t shoot pucks enough, so I’m trying to make up for some of the guys that don’t like to shoot it as much.”
Lukas Dostal is expected to start in goal for the Ducks after Ville Husso made 36 saves against the Flames on Wednesday.
