season /record / playoffs?
1970-71 3-1 no
1974-75 3-1 yes
1980-81 3-1 yes
1982-83 2-0-2 no
1988-89 4-0 yes
1992-93 3-1 yes
1993-94 3-1 no
1995-96 2-0-2 no
1999-00 3-1 yes
2002-03 3-1 no
2003-04 3-1 no
2005-06 3-1 no
2009-10 3-1 ??
If I can count, that’s 12 starts at 3-1 or better, with 5 play-off appearances. That’s 42%. Not a great indicator. And it’s even worse when you consider this: the Kings have been in the playoffs 23 times out of 41 seasons (56% of the time). If you subtract the 12 seasons in which they started the season at 3-1 or better, you’re left with 29 seasons, in which they made the playoffs 18 times. 62% of the time.
That’s right: historically, the Kings are 20% more likely to make the playoffs when they do worse than 3-1 in their first four games. Grrrr.