With a record now at 9-5-0, it’s not easy to argue that the Los Angeles Kings are the NHL’s best team at the moment.
There are spans where they looks like they might be the most overwhelming, however.
The second period of their eventual 4-1 win against the Florida Panthers on Saturday was quite the display of the many things that make the Kings a squad that intimidates opponents when the games get bigger.
Los Angeles survived a lengthy 5-on-3 opportunity - including a great stop by Jonathan Quick, which sent Jaromir Jagr looking at the ceiling - and really took off from there.
The Kings went from being down 1-0 to up 3-1 during about a four-minute span, a time in which it seemed like Los Angeles could score at will. The shots on goal tell a story, too, especially considering that 5-on-3: the Kings generated a towering 20-4 shot on goal advantage in the second period.
(This came after being down 1-0 despite a 10-5 shot advantage in the opening frame.)
Jeff Carter scored his seventh goal of the season & extended his goal-streak to three games; he has 13 points (7-6=13) in the last 9 games.
— LA Kings PR (@LAKingsPR) November 8, 2015
Does this all mean that the Kings are the West’s best? No, and it’s glaringly early.
They might be the scariest when they really get roaring, though.
(Naturally, they’re among the top possession teams too, if you’re into that kind of thing.)