4 X factors who could push their team to NHL playoffs (Western Conference)
The Western Conference playoff race is heating up. There are currently two teams deadlocked with 91 points and a third sits just a point behind in what is bound to be a fantastic race for the playoffs until the end.
Heading into Friday night’s NHL action, the Los Angeles Kings have moved into playoff position in the Pacific Division. With 93 points on the campaign, the Kings have played well over their last 10 games, with a 6-2-2 record. They occupy the third and final spot atop the NHL’s Pacific Division.
Occupying the top wild card spot in the Western Conference are the St. Louis Blues, who have a game in hand, and also sit at 91 points. While many thought St. Louis might be out of playoff contention after the trade deadline, the Blues are among the hottest teams in the NHL, and by far the hottest team competing for the Western Conference wild card. With an 8-2 record in their previous 10 games, the Blues are surging at the right time.
The Anaheim Ducks, who also sit at 91 points, currently occupy the second wild card spot in the Western Conference. The Ducks have played decent hockey over their past 10 games, with a 5-4-1 record.
On the outside looking in we have the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche sit at 90 points on the season, just a single point back of the three teams they are chasing. Along with both the Kings and the Ducks, the Avalanche have played decent hockey of late, going 6-4 in their past 10 games.
With what will be an epic end to the season, let’s take a look at some X factors from these squads who can help push their teams to the playoffs.
LA Kings X factor: Drew Doughty
Drew Doughty has been a dynamic defenseman on both ends of the ice all year long for the Kings, and his play is only heating up as the Western Conference wild card race does, too.
The L.A. Kings are having themselves a solid season thus far. They are among the top half of the NHL in goals for per game, goals against per game, power-play percentage and penalty kill percentage, thanks in large part to assistant captain Doughty.
Drew Doughty munches more minutes then anyone else on the Kings. Through the month of March, Doughty averaged a whopping 26.24 minutes of ice time per game. That is just less than five minutes more then the next closest King. Not only does he play big minutes, Doughty chipped in big offensively in March, too. He registered one goal and 11 assists in 13 games, the second most on L.A.’s roster.
Doughty anchors the Kings’ first defense pairing, and plays big minutes on the NHL’s best penalty kill that is killing a crazy 85 percent of penalties. He also plays on the NHL’s 12th best power play, which is scoring at an average of 21 percent.
Drew Doughty is a dynamic player, and everything you could ask for as the ultimate X factor for the Kings as they make a push to the playoffs.