LOS ANGELES -- Because of their ability to possess the puck and their playoff pedigree, the Los Angeles Kings were a popular pick for a deep run in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
After two lopsided losses to the San Jose Sharks to open their Western Conference First Round series, the Kings need to fix some serious problems if they want to win a game in this postseason, let alone a series.
Because of the way the standings shook out in the West, two of the best teams in the NHL were guaranteed to be knocked out in the opening round with San Jose and Los Angeles playing in one series and the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks in another. That said, the Kings have struggled to be competitive.