Note the question mark 
The Kings have been playing a noticeably tense brand of hockey since the olympic break... for a young team many of which have never fought for a playoff spot before, everyone has been holding their sticks a little too tightly and getting into their own heads.
Tonight, for the first time in eight years, the Kings will be playing with a playoff spot already clinched. The players are really loose and excited, and I don't think they care all that much where they finish from 5-8; obviously they'd prefer 5, but they are just thrilled to have met their preseason goal of making the playoffs.
Despite key injuries to Jonas Hiller and Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks have been playing pretty damn good hockey of late, and even though they don't have much to play for (with their playoff hopes all but over), they'll definitely be up for a game against a hated rival on their home ice.
That said, the Kings are the better hockey team this season, and with a decade's worth of playoffless angst off of their shoulders, I think they play their game and pick up the win tonight -105.
The Kings have been playing a noticeably tense brand of hockey since the olympic break... for a young team many of which have never fought for a playoff spot before, everyone has been holding their sticks a little too tightly and getting into their own heads.
Tonight, for the first time in eight years, the Kings will be playing with a playoff spot already clinched. The players are really loose and excited, and I don't think they care all that much where they finish from 5-8; obviously they'd prefer 5, but they are just thrilled to have met their preseason goal of making the playoffs.
Despite key injuries to Jonas Hiller and Ryan Getzlaf, the Ducks have been playing pretty damn good hockey of late, and even though they don't have much to play for (with their playoff hopes all but over), they'll definitely be up for a game against a hated rival on their home ice.
That said, the Kings are the better hockey team this season, and with a decade's worth of playoffless angst off of their shoulders, I think they play their game and pick up the win tonight -105.
