I take no pleasure in reporting that the Los Angeles Kings have been bounced out of the first round of the NHL playoffs by the Edmonton Oilers for the fourth consecutive year. Not joking. About either. Fourth consecutive year bounced out of the first round, fourth consecutive year at the hands of the Oilers.
It was really looking like this was going to be the year LAK broke the Oiler curse. They had the league-best home record and actually had a pretty good year, even with the absence of Drew Doughty for a chunk of the season. And with home ice advantage for the first time in decades, they slaughtered the Oilers in the first two games of the series. But Edmonton also enjoyed home ice, taking both games in Alberta. Then they won game five in L.A. And tonight they defeated the Kings for the fourth consecutive game, and just like that, LAK is eliminated from the playoffs. AGAIN.
Gotta give props to Edmonton. After two shellackings in L.A., they came back and won four straight games to advance to the second round, where they'll meet (and hopefully fall to) the Vegas Golden Knights.
This is yet another massive fail by the Kings. The funny thing was that after the first two wins, I was hearing fans talking Rob Blake as GM of the year and praising the heck out of coach Jim Hiller. But it was a very temporary high pedestal, which Edmonton destroyed in just four games.
Ownership needs to clean house now. Front office, coach, clear it out and start over. Get some new blood in there. Because as Dave Chappelle would say...
...and the same old isn't working for the Kings. It hasn't been working for years. Hopefully something will finally give.
This game also marked the final appearance of long-time Kings announcer/legend Nick Nickson, who has retired. What a way to go out.
Updated 5/5/25: Blake is gone. Now do Hiller. Don't forget the rest of the front office.
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