How Underrated Are the L.A. Kings?

I can't remember the last time that I looked at the standings and saw the Los Angeles Kings on top. However, that's exactly what happened to me today. I was a little shocked to see that the Kings were leading the Western Conference.

However, I'm not sure that I should be surprised. The Kings are having a great season and have been playing some great hockey. I think my problem is that I never really looked at how many points they had. I knew they were fourth in the conference, but I didn't realize that they were beating the two teams in front of them.

I'm sure that my mistake was made by a lot of other people as well. Being in first place in December is a lot different than being in first place in October. The Avs were thought to be on pace for a really good season, only to slip to fifth in the standings after their amazing start.

However, the Kings did just the opposite. They didn't have the start the Avs did, but they didn't have a bad one either. They have played consistently throughout the entire season.

Right now, the Kings are playing some more great hockey, but they are keeping it close. They are on a four-game winning streak, but three of those wins have come in either overtime or a shootout. The most impressive game, to me, was the 5-4 win over the Sharks.

My point is that even though L.A. is in first place, people are having a tough time giving them the credit they deserve. Their climb to the top was so subtle that most of the hockey world hasn't noticed it yet. Eventually this will change and the Kings will start being looked at as a great team.

L.A. has a tough fight ahead with San Jose for the division lead. I'm really anxious to see how this plays out for the rest of the season.

See more of my opinions at Tips for Hockey