Detroit Red Wings and Fans About to Invade Staples Center

The Los Angeles Kings host the Detroit Red Wings tonight, in an extremely important game for the playoff hopeful Kings. The Kings are on the fringe of the playoffs and needing some wins to over take the Colorado Avalanche, who remain in 8th place, just two points ahead of the Kings. Having lost in Detroit on Friday night on late goal Darren Helm, it’s only fitting that the Kings get an immediate chance for payback against the Red Wings, as Henrik Zetterberg and all 58 million Red Wings fans will be at Staples Center tonight.

The Red Wings had a record 23 straight home wins at Joe Louis Arena this season, and are 28-4-2 overall in Detroit. Since the Wings tend to bring droves of their red-clad faithful into Staples Center, does that make tonight’s game a virtual home game for the Wings? Of course not, but considering that the Kings are exactly .500 (17-13-4) at home in terms of wins and losses, the Kings will have to treat the match up as nearly a must win game if they want to avoid the four game season sweep at the hands of the Red Wings.

The Kings have thirteen games remaining include tonight’s battle with Detroit, and they’ll need about eight wins to have to a legitimate shot at overcoming Phoenix, Colorado, San Jose and Calgary for one of the last couple of spots in the Western Conference.