After a rocky start to November that saw the Kings drop three of four games at home - including a shutout loss - Los Angeles hit the road with something to prove. A six-game road swing, five of which came against Eastern Conference teams, offered a chance to reset and regroup.
The final stop? A rivalry clash in San Jose against the Sharks.
The Kings responded the way good teams do: with results. They went 4-1-1 on the trip, picking up points in five of six games and building some real momentum heading into a crucial six-game homestand that spans the end of November and the start of December.
That homestand kicked off under tough circumstances - the Kings were coming off a shootout loss to the Sharks the night before, and the Boston Bruins were waiting for them at Crypto.com Arena. Despite a gritty effort, the Kings came up short in overtime.
Morgan Geekie played the role of spoiler, scoring twice for Boston, including the OT winner. The lone bright spot for L.A. came from Joel Armia, who netted a shorthanded goal - his second in as many nights.
That kind of penalty-kill production is rare, and Armia’s hustle hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Next up was a visit from the Ottawa Senators, featuring former King Jordan Spence. The game was a defensive grind through two scoreless periods before things opened up in the third.
Warren Foegele broke the deadlock with his fourth goal of the season, set up by Joel Armia and Joel Edmundson. Ottawa answered with a goal from Fabian Zetterlund to even things up, but the Kings weren’t done.
Brandt Clarke, the young defenseman showing more and more poise with each game, buried a power play goal - his third of the year - to seal the 2-1 win. Edmundson picked up his second assist of the night on the play, and Corey Perry chipped in with a helper as well. It was a textbook example of the Kings’ depth stepping up in key moments.
Then came a high-stakes tilt on Nov. 28 in Anaheim. With first place in the Pacific Division hanging in the balance, the Kings and Ducks delivered a back-and-forth battle that ended in a 5-4 shootout loss for L.A. It stung, no doubt - especially against a SoCal rival - but the Kings still walked away with a point.
They bounced back in their next outing against the Vancouver Canucks in front of the home crowd. This one had a playoff-type feel, and it was Adrian Kempe who played the hero.
He netted the overtime winner - his fourth game-winning goal of the season - to lock up a 2-1 victory. Kempe continues to be a clutch performer, and his knack for delivering in big moments is becoming a defining trait of this Kings squad.
Now, with three more games left on this homestand, the Kings have a golden opportunity to keep the pressure on in the Pacific. The Washington Capitals come to town on Dec. 2, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks on Dec. 4 and another home matchup on Dec. 6.
If the Kings can keep their structure tight, lean on their depth, and get continued production from the likes of Kempe, Armia, and Clarke, they’ll be in good shape to stack points and stay in the thick of the division race. The early part of the season had its bumps, but right now, this group looks like it's starting to find its stride.