Monday was a bad night for the Los Angeles Kings even beyond being shut out 2-0 by the Edmonton Oilers.
This concludes a tough 48 hours for the Kings after they also fell 5-2 to the Calgary Flames on Sunday. Really, they’ve been slipping for some time; they’re now just 7-10-3 since Feb. 5.
The frustrations really might be growing, as it wasn’t as though there was zero effort. They fired 35 shots on Cam Talbot, but the Oilers goalie was up to the task, giving him two straight shutouts.
Again, it’s not just a matter of the Kings falling in regulation. The Nashville Predators also beat the Arizona Coyotes 3-1 on Monday, moving at least briefly ahead of the St. Louis Blues for third in the Central. The Predators now have 83 standings points (in 72 games played), shifting the Kings’ view to the Blues:
First wild card: Flames - 86 points in 72 games
Second wild card: Blues - 81 points in 71 GP
Kings - 75 points in 72 GP
Los Angeles doesn’t have any games remaining vs. the Blues or Predators, and while they face Calgary twice, the gap is likely too large between the Kings and Flames at this point.
This isn’t to say that the Kings are totally out of it, but it’s another rough night for their chances. Sports Club Stats gives them an eight percent chance to make the playoffs, down two percent in one night.