As the playoffs wind towards their inevitable, Stanley Cup-raising conclusion, we take one more peek in at how the collection of former Los Angeles Kings fared in the post-season, and bid goodbye to all but one player.
Carolina Hurricanes
Justin Williams: The Hurricanes completed their sweep of the Islanders only to run out of gas in the Eastern Conference Finals, running up against the Boston Bruins, who looked pretty unstopppable. The spotlight in the elimination game was on Williams, but the whole team struggled and went out with more of a whimper than a bang. The Hurricanes built something amazing this season and watching it grow in the future is going to be fascinating.
Justin Williams hasn’t made a decision about his future yet. But he wants to make sure if he laces up the skates again it’s at 100 percent.
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) May 20, 2019
Williams addressing the media with beads I’m assuming his kids gave to him to make him feel better when he was hugging them a few minutes ago pic.twitter.com/uH9HKafJqi
— Sara Civ (@SaraCivian) May 17, 2019
Final Stats: 15 games played, 4 goals, 3 assists
Dallas Stars
Ben Bishop: The Stars’ playoff run didn’t end without controversy. Bishop was hit high by a puck in game six of the Dallas Stars’ series against the St. Louis Blues, and while he was on the ice in obvious pain, the Blues took the puck and scored. Debate still goes on as to whether play should have been blown dead, but ultimately it’s a call that’s in the on-ice officials’ discretion to make, and they chose not to. Bishop was largely outstanding for the Stars in the playoffs, and his team battled to double overtime in the deciding game seven, but ultimately couldn’t get the final, winning goal. That honor went to Patrick Maroon, hometown boy, sending his team on to the Western Conference Finals.
Ben Bishop is now the 86th goalie in NHL history with at least 50 saves in a playoff game.
— Sean Shapiro (@seanshapiro) May 8, 2019
Final Stats: 13 games played, 7-6, .933 Sv%, 2.22 GAA
New York Islanders
Thomas Hickey: The defenseman drew into the playoffs for the Islanders only due to the injury to Johnny Boychuk. He didn’t perform particularly well, but then again, neither did the Islanders, who were swept by the Hurricanes.
Final Stats: 4 games played, no points
San Jose Sharks
Martin Jones: It was a good run, Martin. Jones silenced critics with his play in the elimination games against Vegas, and overall was very good against Colorado, a series which extended to seven games. The series loss to the Blues can be pinned on lots of other elements, including injuries to Joe Pavelski, Tomas Hertl, and Erik Karlsson, and coach Peter DeBoer’s perplexing decision to play Micheal Haley 12:27 in the elimination game. When it came down to it, the Sharks just couldn’t score — they scored two goals total in the last three games of the series — so it didn’t necessarily matter what Jones did or didn’t do in net. Still, he needed to be perfect to keep the Sharks alive, and instead allowed 11 goals over three games.
Final Stats: 20 games played, 10-9, .898 Sv%, 3.02 GAA
St. Louis Blues
Brayden Schenn: Last ex-King standing? Sure looks like it, unless you count Jordan Nolan, who’s up with the Blues as a Black Ace after spending the bulk of his season with the San Antonio Rampage. Schenn’s continued to have a frustrating playoffs experience, with only two goals so far. His second goal came in the series clincher against the Sharks and he was very happy about it. Schenn hadn’t scored since the first round against Winnipeg.
Brayden Schenn nets the rebound, then snaps his stick in celebration. 😅#StanleyCup pic.twitter.com/zqBuh3rKfD
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 22, 2019
Current Stats: 19 games played, 2 goals, 5 assists