from Craig Custance of ESPN,
We always refer to the trip Eastern Conference teams make through Los Angeles, San Jose and Anaheim as the "California gauntlet", but the swing through the New York metro area isn't exactly a cake walk for Western teams. Cory Schneider has been an absolute wall for the Devils, while the New York Islanders and New York Rangers are high-end playoff teams.
That's what makes the Los Angeles Kings' march through that portion of their schedule so impressive. They beat the Devils, Rangers and Islanders by a combined score of 10-5 over the last week. The winning goal over the Islanders on Thursday night was vintage Kings: the trio of Marian Gaborik, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams put in a dominant shift in the offensive zone that led to Kopitar scoring the game-winner.
If they keep this up, the reigning champs may not only make the playoffs, but could end up earning home ice in the first round.
read on for Strang on the Senators, LeBrun on the Panthers and more...
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