The Los Angeles Kings have had an impressive start to the 2024-25 NHL season, boasting a 17-8-3 record nearly a third of the way through the schedule. They are in second place in the Pacific Division. Their home dominance at Crypto.com Arena is evident in their 10-2-1 home record, further showcasing their overall strength as one of the league's top teams thus far.
After a brief slump, in which they lost four of six games, the Kings have rebounded with a five-game winning streak. Reflecting on this recent surge, head coach Jim Hiller noted, "If you go back and look at our third periods since the San Jose game, it's probably been our best. It doesn't necessarily mean we scored more or got more shots-it's just that we showed the best desperation and did what we had to do to win."
This streak includes victories over top Central Division teams like the Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, and Dallas Stars. Over their last 10 games, the Kings have posted a 7-3-0 record, averaging 2.8 goals and 4.8 assists per game, while allowing only two goals per game.
Despite struggling with their power play, which ranks 26th in the NHL at 16.88%, the Kings' defense has been a standout strength. They allow just 2.59 goals per game, ranking 3rd in the league, and their penalty kill ranks 15th with a 79.78% success rate. Coach Hiller praised the team's defensive mindset: "It's a willingness to check, a willingness to make defense a priority up and down the lineup. Whether it's taking an extra step back on a backcheck, blocking a shot, or knowing when to play it safe late in a shift, these little things add up. That takes everyone. It's a solid team effort."
Offensively, Adrian Kempe (RW) has been the team's catalyst, recording 13 goals and 13 assists this season. Trevor Moore (LW) has also stepped up, contributing three goals and four assists in the past 10 games.
Team captain Anze Kopitar (C), a two-time Stanley Cup champion, remains the cornerstone of the Kings' offense even at 37 years old. Now in his 19th NHL season, Kopitar continues to defy expectations. Last Saturday, he reached a major milestone, playing his 1,400th career game, a testament to his longevity and consistency. This season, he has been nothing short of stellar, tallying 31 points (8 goals, 23 assists) in 27 games, placing him among the league's top performers. Equally remarkable is his durability. Since the 2017-18 season, Kopitar has missed only three games.
Goaltender Darcy Kuemper made a strong return from injury, stopping 22 of 23 shots in last Saturday's victory over the Minnesota Wild. The win marked his fifth of the season and further solidified the Kings' defensive depth as they head into a challenging stretch of road games.
With key players like Kempe, Moore, Kopitar, and Kuemper performing at a high level, the Kings are well-positioned for their upcoming seven-game road trip, started last Tuesday against the New York Islands, a game the Kings won 3-1. Coach Hiller summarized the team's mindset. "We need to bring it on the road. We've got to get out there and keep up this level of play."
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