November Looks to Be a Critical Early Month for the Kings
Without blowing it completely out of proportion, it has to be said: November is a big month for the Kings. No, not just because the Kings open up a big stretch of home games (nine at the Stape during the month), but last November ended so terribly. The Kings won their first four games in the month a year ago, only to drop all but one in their final seven. The Culprit? Movember.
Yes, I know, it’s for a good cause, but let’s get real: the ‘staches devastated the Kings a year ago, especially the one that adorned the young lip of a certain Drew Doughty. As The Royal Half points out, the “NOOOOOO-vember!” swoon has a long history with the Kings. And as for the mustaches, Mike Richards has been heavily tweeting about Movember for a good few weeks.
But alas, let’s consider the real importance of the month: the schedule. The Kings not only have a bunch of home games, but crucial ones at that. The hottest team in the Western Conference opens up the month for the Kings, as the Oilers come to Staples on Thursday night.
The Oilers, with rookie sensation Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and a rather familiar family man, would be the No. 1 seed in the conference if the season ended today. The club has decided to keep Nugent-Hopkins, and rightfully so as the 18-year-old has tallied 11 points in his first 11 games. Though the Oilers are young and will presumably be out of the race come January, their youth and speed offer an interesting test for the Kings defensively. Not to mention, that the return of Ryan Smyth to Staples Center will be extremely interesting. I said back in June that Smyth should still be respected in Los Angeles, and I’d assume that for most that will be the case. But you know there’s going to boos on Thursday night. By the way, another former King will be on the ice for the Oilers, as they’ve called up Colten Teubert to make his NHL debut on the home ice of the team that drafted him. Ah, storylines galore(and I didn’t even mention Colin Fraser).
Saturday, another young, but heavily experienced team visits the Kings in the form of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Though Sidney Crosby will miss their west coast swing, the Pens aren’t exactly struggling without the world’s best player. Like Edmonton in the west, Pittsburgh is atop the Eastern Conference at the moment with 18 points. They’re proving to be masters of the art of secondary scoring, as James Neal leads the team with nine goals and Matt Cooke, yes, Matt Cooke already has a third of his yearly total last season, with 4. Defensively, the Pens could be as strong as ever. Kris Letang is back with the vengeance, tied for the team lead in points with 11, and Marc-Andre Fleury has a ridiculous 1.86 goals against. The Pens could be the only team that matches up with the Kings’ depth at center, and it will be a key matchup for Kopitar and Richards to maintain Malkin and Staal.
Just how will the Kings fare this month? We’ll have to wait and see, but the answer will be surely hinted at by Saturday night, as two early tests should serve as the Kings’ early season barometer. Also lurking later this month? The Canucks, Red Wings and Blackhawks, plus home-and-homes with the Sharks and Ducks. Yikes. Pick your poison.
For up-to-the-minute buzz, follow us on Twitter and join our Facebook Fan Page.