Important stretch
The Kings are in the early stages of a stretch in which they will play 11 consecutive games against Pacific Division opponents. Given the way the division standings looked this morning -- last-place Phoenix was just five points behind first-place San Jose -- this month could have a huge impact on how the division race ultimately plays out.
``There's no real favorite right now,'' Michael Cammalleri said. ``In the end, one or two teams will probably pull away, and we want to be one of those teams.''
Since even Phoenix can't be considered a ``gimme'' game at this point, the pressure is on the Kings in every game this month, but Cammalleri said the parity in the division doesn't make things excessively difficult on the Kings.
``I don't think it makes it any easier or harder,'' Cammalleri said. ``It's just the situation we have. We're pro athletes and we have to adjust. It's a tight division and we're right in the heat of things right now.''
Nothing is won in November, of course, but a solid month of games against division opponents will go a long way toward helping the Kings break their five-year playoff drought.
``These are the games early in the season that you can't lose,'' Dustin Brown said. ``At the end of the year, games against the teams are going to be very important. The playoffs might be decided by one point and everybody is going to look back at these games.''
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J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
.com.
Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
@dailynews.com.
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I agree with Cammy & Brownie.
All five teams in their division are contenders for the playoffs. Unfortunately, even the coyotes, who've been giving the ducks trouble this year, are improved.
A strong month of November may push them into the playoffs. A poor month will put them behind the 8 Ball.
Everybody on the team needs to contribute in order for the Kings to have a successful month.
I hope they win most of the games. Especially against the quacks. I hate Anaheim with a nasty passion. That team can go to hell.
hey parros luvr (inside joke....you know how you are!!)
i may have been wrong i have to agree with anthony
Once again, November will prove to be the pivotal month in determining the ultiamte finish for this team. I cannot remember a November stretch in recent memory that devotes so mnay games to divisional rivals. Typically, that month consists of the first long East Coast roadie of the season.
Quick Prediction: Not only do I predict that the Mighty Goons of Anaheim will not make the Playoffs (which seems to be a trend in hockey for Stanley Cup Champions) they will also finish last in the Pacific division. I gamble on hockey, and have made more money betting against the Ducks then any other team, so far this year.