Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kings Pick Up Their Game As Playoffs Approach

04/22/2013 at 8:09am EDT

from Helene Elliott of the LA Times,

It's starting to feel a lot like last season for the Kings.

After a rocky start and adjustments on defense made necessary by injuries to Willie Mitchell and Matt Greene, the Kings have rediscovered the formula that a year ago boosted them from the No. 8 seeding in the West to winning the Stanley Cup. They're blending strong goaltending, punishing defense, good special-teams play and unshakeable resolve, and they've calibrated it to come together at precisely the right time.

Their 4-3 overtime victory over the Dallas Stars at Staples Center on Sunday, secured when Mike Richards threw the puck in front and it glanced off Jeff Carter's chest and pas tKari Lehtonen at 4 minutes 8 seconds, solidified their hold on the No. 4 West playoff seeding and put two points between them and No. 5 San Jose. It also extended their point streak to 4-0-1 and gave them points in 12 of their last 14 games (9-2-3).

"This is just my feeling about this team, that when the games become more meaningful we become a better team," Dustin Brown said after a two-goal, seven-hit performance.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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