from Lisa Dillman of the LA Times,

After 41 games last season, the Kings were in fourth place in the Pacific Division with 47 points and trailed the first-place Ducks by 11 points.

They had won five times on the road in 19 opportunities and as reigning Stanley Cup champions weren't displaying much of an emotional range.

Halfway through this season, the Kings lead the division with 55 points, nine ahead of second-place Arizona. They've won 13 games on the road, two shy of their total last season.

Coach Darryl Sutter noted the improved confidence level.

"Our players have been better in the tough part of the schedule because the top guys, the stars on our team, didn't like what happened to them last year," Sutter said. "And our young guys, it's not a good feeling for a young player when he hasn't played a playoff game.

"It doesn't matter how many games you've played in the NHL, if you haven't played in a playoff game, you haven't really accomplished much yet. When you go through our group, a lot of these kids, they have not. They've had a year under their belt and that's how you push them."

continued