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NHL Power Rankings: Bruins climb as the Golden Knights fall

By Derek Grochowski

TAMPA, FL - MARCH 17: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi (5) and Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) collide in the second period of the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning on March 17, 2018 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - MARCH 17: Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Dan Girardi (5) and Boston Bruins defenseman Torey Krug (47) collide in the second period of the NHL game between the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning on March 17, 2018 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 17: Drew Doughty
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 17: Drew Doughty /

17. Los Angeles Kings (-1)

The Los Angeles Kings have been driven by Anze Kopitar’s great season. Kopitar has quietly put together an 80-point season and doesn’t get a lot of recognition for it. He usually earns a lot of his credit for being a strong two-way center with great defensive responsibility. This year has been a little different; he is one point short of his career high and still has ten games to play. The Kings currently sit in the last wild card spot of the Western Conference. If the Kings can make the playoffs, a lot of credit will go to Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty, but the real hero of this team is Anze Kopitar.

The Kings are struggling during the most important part of the season. They dropped three out of four games this week and most of them were against beatable opponents. Things started well as they shut out the Vancouver Canucks at home. They followed that performance up with a loss to the Arizona Coyotes, a loss to the Detroit Red Wings and a loss to the New Jersey Devils. The bottom of the Western Conference is so tight the Kings cannot afford to keep giving away points. This week won’t be any easier as the Kings have four road games. They start against the Minnesota Wild, head north to take on the Winnipeg Jets, then to the Rockies to play the Colorado Avalanche, before ending with the Edmonton Oilers.

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