Kings believe they can be ‘tough to beat’ down stretch

The Kings have meandered through much of the season but a six-game surge in February and their superb penalty kill have buoyed them to the point that they are playing critical games every night.

They will host the thirdplace Minnesota Wild tonight before squaring off with Arizona on Saturday. The Kings entered Thursday with the third-ranked penalty kill in the NHL and a series of shots at redemption.

“It’s kind of a special year in terms of standings,” said center Blake Lizotte, who had three points in Tuesday’s 4-1 victory over the Ducks. “We had a bit of a rough stretch a little bit ago, and we’re still within reach of a playoff spot; we believe we can get there. ... When we take care of our details, we’re tough to beat.”

All three teams ahead of the Kings in the chase for the West Division’s fourth and final playoff spot have struggled of late. Arizona, clinging narrowly to fourth place, and fifth-place St. Louis have each won just three of their last 10 games, and sixth-place San Jose has lost seven in a row.

The Kings have 13 games left to narrow the deficit, with four games in hand over Arizona and four meetings left with the lastplace Ducks. They also got a scheduling update Tuesday when the league announced that their two road games against the Colorado Avalanche, originally scheduled for April 16 and 18, will now be played May 12 and 13.

A lot could be on the line in those last two games, not only the final playoff berth but, for Colorado, the West Division crown. The Avalanche trailed division-leading Vegas by four points entering Thursday, but Colorado also held three games in hand.

Kings coach Todd McLellan said his team is more focused on imminent challenges, but hopes that Games 55 and 56 will be meaningful.

“If we can make those two games count, then all the more power to us, and that’s what our goal is right now,” McLellan said. “If we get to that point where they do count, which we believe we can push there, then we’ll worry about it when we get there.”

The Kings next face a Minnesota team that has won five of seven meetings between the two sides this season, though three of those victories came in overtime. The Kings have earned seven of a possible 14 points against the Wild thus far.

Minnesota has been on the edge of elite status all season, hindered only by a lack of power-play production. The Wild did not make a significant addition at the trade deadline, but they have turned around their fortunes with the extra man anyway. In April, they have had the league’s best power play, converting on a stunning 42.9%.

Rookie Kirill Kaprizov leads the Wild in goals, points and power-play goals, and he leads all NHL rookies in scoring. The tandem of Cam Talbot and rookie Kappo Kahkonen has been effective in goal behind a mobile defense. On the blue line, second-year player Carson Soucy is fifth among all defensemen in plus-minus rating.