Game Thread: Boston Bruins Vs LA Kings Jan 9, 2014

[PuckinUgly57]

No one is catching Anaheim, St Louis or the Hawks in the standings, but out of those three, the only squad I worry about gaining home ice advantage against, is Chicago.

One team they need to focus on and make sure they outpoint, is San Jose. Kings need home ice if they meet up in the playoffs.

I'm confident the Kings could take Anaheim and St. Louis in any playoff match up, Anaheim doesn't have a physical shut down defender to handle the Kings big forwards over a playoff series and St. Louis doesn't have any legitimate scoring threats, just guys who are having career years.

Anaheim absolutely smells of Boudreau's regular season studs, post season duds Capitals teams - it's happened once already and I gave him a pass for his first year there since he came on board midway through after Carlyle was fired. He should be on the hot seat already if the Ducks flame out in the first round.

I DO NOT however want to see the Blues again in the WCQFs, people were doing cartwheels when that match up happened last season but I was in the minority because they were the most physical and they pounded the Kings and banged them up good for the WCSFs and WCFs and it showed.

The Hawks are the Kings' Achille's heel but no matter what the road to the Cup with go through Chicago. The Kings can either be prepared for that physically and mentally or hope someone else upsets them before any potential match up.

San Jose won't be a problem.