The One Flaw That Could End the Kings’ Playoff Run Before It Starts

Despite shutting out the Oilers for the second time this month without Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Los Angeles Kings are far from perfect.The Kings officially clinched home-ice advantage last night with their 5-0 win over Edmonton, but one issue could derail LAs Stanley Cup push: their subpar power play.Script: Flipped https://t.co/GBuBWqCo9w#GoKingsGopic.twitter.com/DU1MQWJ8wU x - LA Kings (@LAKings) April 15, 2025Special teams cannot be overstressed in the playoffs, where games are won and lost by small details and single-goal margins.

The Kings are finishing the regular season with a power play below league average.

Throughout this season, the Kings are ranked 28th out of 32 in power play, a 17.4% ratesubstantially lower than that of a contender.

And going against those top teams that feed on this, including Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Vegas, it could be a glaring issue thatll haunt the Kings in the playoffs despite their depth and defense flowing lately.If the Kings struggle to score on the man advantage while giving Edmonton multiple looks on the power play, it may turn out like the last three playoff yearseach ending with an Oilers series win.

Whats Going Wrong?At other times, the Kings' power play has appeared too predictable and meek.

Rather than attempting to get to shooting lanes or creating chaos in front of the net, the puck moves around in circles on the perimeter.Quinton Byfield's latest injury scare adds to the concern.

He left Monday's game after taking a scary cross-check from Edmonton's Darnell Nurse.

Over the past few weeks, Byfield has been one of the Kings' most physical skaters on the power play, and his loss would further limit the unit.Have They Found a Potential FixWhile the Kings' power play was spotty earlier in the year, a positive trend has emerged: they've been steadily improving since the trade deadline.In March, the power play of LA clicked at a 23.7% rate, their highest monthly percentage of the year and a significant uptick from earlier lows.

In April, even playing some of the league's most parsimonious penalty kills down the stretch, they still managed to click at a 22.2% rate.

#GoKingsGo After the deadline compared to the last two seasons w league ranks (all situations per NST):2022-23: 12-5-2 (14th) 16th GF, 1st GA2023-2412-8-0 (8th) 12th GF, 7th GA2024-25:14-4-0 (1st) 1st GF, 1st GAIs this the year they punch through the first round? Connor Doyle (@LordsOfTheRinks) April 14, 2025Those are playoff-level numbersa sign that adjustments under interim head coach Jim Hiller may be paying off.

Even more shocking? Six power-play goals in the final three regular-season games, with a combined 16 goals against Edmonton, Colorado, and Anaheim.

That late push may be a tipping point, and it's all due to one bold coaching switch.With Kevin Fiala, Anze Kopitar, Adrian Kempe, Trevor Moore, and Quinton Byfield as their forwards, the Kings have added speed, vision, and uncertainty to their structure.With a goaltending combination peaking at just the right timeDarcy Kuemper and David Rittich combined on a shutout last nightdurable special teams play may be the final component that unleashes a more substantial playoff push.Darcy Kuemper and David Rittich combined for a team shutout, while five different @LAKings players found the back of the net as Los Angeles secured home-ice advantage in their First Round series against the Oilers.#NHLStats: https://t.co/IgSSd44xYspic.twitter.com/P9RvhHCkPK NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) April 15, 2025Final WordThe Los Angeles Kings have the talent, depth, and recent success to break into the first round finally.

But they must eliminate one of their most frustrating issues to do it and potentially make a serious Stanley Cup run.

In a series where each power play potentially means winning a game, the power-play skill of LA could be the widest margin from disappointment to immortality..

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