The Kings’ 5-10-6 road record is probably the most glaring of all their bad statistics after 49 games, but it sure isn’t the only one keeping them from a playoff position this late in the season. The ninth-place Kings also are 15-15-11 since starting the season with a 6-1-1 mark. They are 2-4-4 in their last 10 games going into Tuesday’s contest at Washington. They are 1-7 in shootouts. Their power play is clicking at only 13.2 percent (9 of 68) on the road. Their penalty-killing unit is successful only 77.8 percent of the time overall (123 of 158), and 72.7 percent on the road (48 of 66). The Kings also are a league-worst 6-6-12 in one-goal games when ranked by winning percentage.

All of these numbers must improve if the Kings hope to advance to the playoffs and defend their Stanley Cup championship. It’s that simple.