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Since You Asked: Premature 50 Game Evaluation

Lineup change, and one before the break " LA Kings Insider
SUTTER: "I look at it as tonight is Game 50 [...]. Tomorrow will be a harder day for the players than today is. Tonight is Game 50, and where are you? How does that mathematically equate to, say, where you were last year at this point? Or what it’s going to take it set it up for those last 32, what you’re going to have to have. Whatever that number is going to be, in terms of being a playoff team, we’re a team that’s going to finish 50 (games) tonight. Then you should be able to sort of figure what you have to have.’’

I was going to do this over the break, but Coach Sutter has set it up too well. I can't resist.

How does that mathematically equate to where you were last year at this point?

The Kings currently have 56 points after 49 games, which is 3 points ahead of last year's pace.
Last year, the Kings had 55 points after 50 games (i.e. they won game 50). So even if the Kings lose tonight to the Sens, they will be ahead of last year's pace (by a point).
Last season, the Kings had just completed their nearly season-crushing 2-10-0 streak (games 36-47) and were two games into their massive season-saving hot streak, which saw them go 20-4-5, getting them to 94 points after game 76. Then Kopitar broke his foot and, well, you know the rest.
Sutter didn't ask about how this season stacks up against seasons previous to last year, but here's a chart anyway.

The left-most column indicates the game number. Next to that is the rank of this year's point total compared to the other seasons shown. Red indicates losing streaks going back a couple of seasons. Green is the Sutter Era. (Check out the 2006 column, which is way ahead of the pack; you might recall this as the season which ended with the wheels falling off, Sean Avery yelling at coaches in practice and getting suspended by the team, Andy Murray getting fired, the Kings missing the playoffs, Dave Taylor losing his job and...enter Dean Lombardi.)

#	R	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
1	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	2	2
2	3	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	4	1	2	4	2
3	10	3	4	4	2	2	4	4	4	6	1	4	4	4
4	7	5	6	6	4	2	4	6	6	6	3	5	6	5
5	3	7	8	8	4	2	4	6	6	7	3	7	7	6
6	1	9	8	8	6	2	4	8	8	8	4	7	9	6
7	1	11	10	8	6	4	5	10	8	10	6	8	9	8
8	3	11	12	8	7	4	7	12	8	10	6	8	10	8
9	1	13	12	10	7	6	8	12	8	12	8	8	10	10
10	1	14	14	12	7	8	8	14	10	13	8	10	12	10
11	3	14	16	14	8	10	8	14	12	15	8	12	14	10
12	6	14	18	16	10	12	8	16	14	15	9	12	16	11
13	5	15	20	17	12	12	8	18	15	15	9	12	18	11
14	7	15	22	18	14	14	10	18	17	17	9	14	20	13
15	6	17	24	20	16	14	11	20	18	17	11	16	21	13
16	8	17	24	22	16	16	11	21	18	18	11	18	21	13
17	6	19	24	22	16	17	13	23	20	18	13	19	22	13
18	5	21	24	22	18	17	13	25	20	20	13	21	24	13
19	5	23	26	24	19	17	14	25	22	21	13	22	26	13
20	6	23	26	24	19	17	16	27	22	22	14	24	28	13
21	6	25	26	26	21	17	16	29	22	24	15	26	28	15
22	4	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	24	24	17	26	28	15
23	5	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	26	25	19	27	30	15
24	3	28	28	28	23	21	18	33	27	27	19	28	31	15
25	3	30	30	30	24	21	20	33	28	27	21	28	33	15
26	4	30	32	30	26	22	22	33	30	27	21	30	34	15
27	6	30	33	32	26	22	22	33	31	29	22	30	35	17
28	8	30	35	34	28	24	22	33	32	31	22	32	37	19
29	8	30	35	36	30	24	24	35	34	33	24	34	37	19
30	9	30	37	37	31	26	24	35	34	33	25	36	39	19
31	8	32	37	39	32	26	26	37	36	35	27	37	39	19
32	8	32	39	41	32	26	26	37	37	37	29	37	39	21
33	8	34	41	43	32	26	28	39	38	37	31	38	39	23
34	8	36	43	45	34	26	29	41	39	37	33	38	39	23
35	8	37	45	45	34	26	29	43	39	39	35	38	40	25
36	6	39	45	47	36	26	29	45	40	39	35	38	40	27
37	5	41	45	47	36	26	29	45	41	39	36	40	42	29
38	4	42	45	47	38	26	31	47	41	39	37	42	42	31
39	4	44	45	47	38	28	33	49	42	39	37	42	43	33
40	3	45	45	47	40	30	33	50	43	41	39	42	45	34
41	3	47	47	49	40	32	33	52	43	41	41	42	45	34
42	3	47	47	51	40	32	35	54	44	41	43	44	45	36
43	3	49	47	53	40	32	37	56	45	41	45	46	46	36
44	3	50	49	53	41	32	38	56	46	43	45	46	48	36
45	3	52	49	53	43	34	38	56	47	43	47	48	48	36
46	2	53	49	53	45	36	38	58	49	44	49	50	50	36
47	2	55	49	55	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	50	38
48	3	56	51	57	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	52	38
49	3	56	53	57	49	40	38	60	53	46	53	52	52	38
50	?	?	55	59	51	40	38	61	54	46	55	52	54	40

What it's going to take it set it up for those last 32?

Back on December 19, I wrote this:

98 points: what the Kings need, when the Kings need it - Jewels From The Crown

The Kings have 50 games left, 32 points. Let's pretend the playoff threshold will be 98 points. Could be a couple of points less, but counting on that would be foolhardy. So let's go with 98: the Kings need 66 points in their final 50 games. That's a .660 point-percentage the rest of the way. Last season, when their rock-bottom was in the middle of January, the Kings needed to go approximately .700 the rest of the way, and they did it, finishing on a 22-8-5 tear. This year, it's not as steep a climb, but it's longer (since we crapped out earlier - yay?). To get to 98, the Kings would need some version of 33-17-0. If you want to throw in the statistically-likely number of OT/SOLs, make it 31-15-4.

That's doable. Especially for a team that's supposed to be one of the best in the Conference.

I broke the games down into blocks of (usually) six or seven games, with an eye toward making the breaks as natural as possible (i.e. the beginning of a road-trip or home-stand). The green line is the All-Star break. The red line is the trade deadline. In general, the Kings need to win 4 for every 2 they lose.

R is days of rest. Hr is hours between games. TP is total points. P is points needed for that block of games. Rec is record.

As you can see, I targeted 57 points through game 50. Which means we're one point away with one game left. So far so good.

Since You Asked: Premature 50 Game Evaluation

How does that mathematically equate to where you were last year at this point?

What it's going to take it set it up for those last 32?

Jewels from the Crown is supported by readers like you!

Read next

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Crown Conversations Episode 43: NHL Draft Wrap Up

Crown Conversations Episode 42: Mascot Lawsuit and Draft Preview

Comments ()

#	R	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
1	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	2	2
2	3	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	4	1	2	4	2
3	10	3	4	4	2	2	4	4	4	6	1	4	4	4
4	7	5	6	6	4	2	4	6	6	6	3	5	6	5
5	3	7	8	8	4	2	4	6	6	7	3	7	7	6
6	1	9	8	8	6	2	4	8	8	8	4	7	9	6
7	1	11	10	8	6	4	5	10	8	10	6	8	9	8
8	3	11	12	8	7	4	7	12	8	10	6	8	10	8
9	1	13	12	10	7	6	8	12	8	12	8	8	10	10
10	1	14	14	12	7	8	8	14	10	13	8	10	12	10
11	3	14	16	14	8	10	8	14	12	15	8	12	14	10
12	6	14	18	16	10	12	8	16	14	15	9	12	16	11
13	5	15	20	17	12	12	8	18	15	15	9	12	18	11
14	7	15	22	18	14	14	10	18	17	17	9	14	20	13
15	6	17	24	20	16	14	11	20	18	17	11	16	21	13
16	8	17	24	22	16	16	11	21	18	18	11	18	21	13
17	6	19	24	22	16	17	13	23	20	18	13	19	22	13
18	5	21	24	22	18	17	13	25	20	20	13	21	24	13
19	5	23	26	24	19	17	14	25	22	21	13	22	26	13
20	6	23	26	24	19	17	16	27	22	22	14	24	28	13
21	6	25	26	26	21	17	16	29	22	24	15	26	28	15
22	4	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	24	24	17	26	28	15
23	5	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	26	25	19	27	30	15
24	3	28	28	28	23	21	18	33	27	27	19	28	31	15
25	3	30	30	30	24	21	20	33	28	27	21	28	33	15
26	4	30	32	30	26	22	22	33	30	27	21	30	34	15
27	6	30	33	32	26	22	22	33	31	29	22	30	35	17
28	8	30	35	34	28	24	22	33	32	31	22	32	37	19
29	8	30	35	36	30	24	24	35	34	33	24	34	37	19
30	9	30	37	37	31	26	24	35	34	33	25	36	39	19
31	8	32	37	39	32	26	26	37	36	35	27	37	39	19
32	8	32	39	41	32	26	26	37	37	37	29	37	39	21
33	8	34	41	43	32	26	28	39	38	37	31	38	39	23
34	8	36	43	45	34	26	29	41	39	37	33	38	39	23
35	8	37	45	45	34	26	29	43	39	39	35	38	40	25
36	6	39	45	47	36	26	29	45	40	39	35	38	40	27
37	5	41	45	47	36	26	29	45	41	39	36	40	42	29
38	4	42	45	47	38	26	31	47	41	39	37	42	42	31
39	4	44	45	47	38	28	33	49	42	39	37	42	43	33
40	3	45	45	47	40	30	33	50	43	41	39	42	45	34
41	3	47	47	49	40	32	33	52	43	41	41	42	45	34
42	3	47	47	51	40	32	35	54	44	41	43	44	45	36
43	3	49	47	53	40	32	37	56	45	41	45	46	46	36
44	3	50	49	53	41	32	38	56	46	43	45	46	48	36
45	3	52	49	53	43	34	38	56	47	43	47	48	48	36
46	2	53	49	53	45	36	38	58	49	44	49	50	50	36
47	2	55	49	55	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	50	38
48	3	56	51	57	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	52	38
49	3	56	53	57	49	40	38	60	53	46	53	52	52	38
50	?	?	55	59	51	40	38	61	54	46	55	52	54	40

#	R	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
1	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	2	2
2	3	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	4	1	2	4	2
3	10	3	4	4	2	2	4	4	4	6	1	4	4	4
4	7	5	6	6	4	2	4	6	6	6	3	5	6	5
5	3	7	8	8	4	2	4	6	6	7	3	7	7	6
6	1	9	8	8	6	2	4	8	8	8	4	7	9	6
7	1	11	10	8	6	4	5	10	8	10	6	8	9	8
8	3	11	12	8	7	4	7	12	8	10	6	8	10	8
9	1	13	12	10	7	6	8	12	8	12	8	8	10	10
10	1	14	14	12	7	8	8	14	10	13	8	10	12	10
11	3	14	16	14	8	10	8	14	12	15	8	12	14	10
12	6	14	18	16	10	12	8	16	14	15	9	12	16	11
13	5	15	20	17	12	12	8	18	15	15	9	12	18	11
14	7	15	22	18	14	14	10	18	17	17	9	14	20	13
15	6	17	24	20	16	14	11	20	18	17	11	16	21	13
16	8	17	24	22	16	16	11	21	18	18	11	18	21	13
17	6	19	24	22	16	17	13	23	20	18	13	19	22	13
18	5	21	24	22	18	17	13	25	20	20	13	21	24	13
19	5	23	26	24	19	17	14	25	22	21	13	22	26	13
20	6	23	26	24	19	17	16	27	22	22	14	24	28	13
21	6	25	26	26	21	17	16	29	22	24	15	26	28	15
22	4	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	24	24	17	26	28	15
23	5	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	26	25	19	27	30	15
24	3	28	28	28	23	21	18	33	27	27	19	28	31	15
25	3	30	30	30	24	21	20	33	28	27	21	28	33	15
26	4	30	32	30	26	22	22	33	30	27	21	30	34	15
27	6	30	33	32	26	22	22	33	31	29	22	30	35	17
28	8	30	35	34	28	24	22	33	32	31	22	32	37	19
29	8	30	35	36	30	24	24	35	34	33	24	34	37	19
30	9	30	37	37	31	26	24	35	34	33	25	36	39	19
31	8	32	37	39	32	26	26	37	36	35	27	37	39	19
32	8	32	39	41	32	26	26	37	37	37	29	37	39	21
33	8	34	41	43	32	26	28	39	38	37	31	38	39	23
34	8	36	43	45	34	26	29	41	39	37	33	38	39	23
35	8	37	45	45	34	26	29	43	39	39	35	38	40	25
36	6	39	45	47	36	26	29	45	40	39	35	38	40	27
37	5	41	45	47	36	26	29	45	41	39	36	40	42	29
38	4	42	45	47	38	26	31	47	41	39	37	42	42	31
39	4	44	45	47	38	28	33	49	42	39	37	42	43	33
40	3	45	45	47	40	30	33	50	43	41	39	42	45	34
41	3	47	47	49	40	32	33	52	43	41	41	42	45	34
42	3	47	47	51	40	32	35	54	44	41	43	44	45	36
43	3	49	47	53	40	32	37	56	45	41	45	46	46	36
44	3	50	49	53	41	32	38	56	46	43	45	46	48	36
45	3	52	49	53	43	34	38	56	47	43	47	48	48	36
46	2	53	49	53	45	36	38	58	49	44	49	50	50	36
47	2	55	49	55	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	50	38
48	3	56	51	57	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	52	38
49	3	56	53	57	49	40	38	60	53	46	53	52	52	38
50	?	?	55	59	51	40	38	61	54	46	55	52	54	40

How does that mathematically equate to where you were last year at this point?

What it's going to take it set it up for those last 32?

Jewels from the Crown is supported by readers like you!

Read next

Comments ( )

Comments ()

#	R	2012	2011	2010	2009	2008	2007	2006	2004	2003	2002	2001	2000	1999
1	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	1	2	2	2
2	3	2	2	2	0	2	2	2	2	4	1	2	4	2
3	10	3	4	4	2	2	4	4	4	6	1	4	4	4
4	7	5	6	6	4	2	4	6	6	6	3	5	6	5
5	3	7	8	8	4	2	4	6	6	7	3	7	7	6
6	1	9	8	8	6	2	4	8	8	8	4	7	9	6
7	1	11	10	8	6	4	5	10	8	10	6	8	9	8
8	3	11	12	8	7	4	7	12	8	10	6	8	10	8
9	1	13	12	10	7	6	8	12	8	12	8	8	10	10
10	1	14	14	12	7	8	8	14	10	13	8	10	12	10
11	3	14	16	14	8	10	8	14	12	15	8	12	14	10
12	6	14	18	16	10	12	8	16	14	15	9	12	16	11
13	5	15	20	17	12	12	8	18	15	15	9	12	18	11
14	7	15	22	18	14	14	10	18	17	17	9	14	20	13
15	6	17	24	20	16	14	11	20	18	17	11	16	21	13
16	8	17	24	22	16	16	11	21	18	18	11	18	21	13
17	6	19	24	22	16	17	13	23	20	18	13	19	22	13
18	5	21	24	22	18	17	13	25	20	20	13	21	24	13
19	5	23	26	24	19	17	14	25	22	21	13	22	26	13
20	6	23	26	24	19	17	16	27	22	22	14	24	28	13
21	6	25	26	26	21	17	16	29	22	24	15	26	28	15
22	4	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	24	24	17	26	28	15
23	5	26	26	28	23	19	18	31	26	25	19	27	30	15
24	3	28	28	28	23	21	18	33	27	27	19	28	31	15
25	3	30	30	30	24	21	20	33	28	27	21	28	33	15
26	4	30	32	30	26	22	22	33	30	27	21	30	34	15
27	6	30	33	32	26	22	22	33	31	29	22	30	35	17
28	8	30	35	34	28	24	22	33	32	31	22	32	37	19
29	8	30	35	36	30	24	24	35	34	33	24	34	37	19
30	9	30	37	37	31	26	24	35	34	33	25	36	39	19
31	8	32	37	39	32	26	26	37	36	35	27	37	39	19
32	8	32	39	41	32	26	26	37	37	37	29	37	39	21
33	8	34	41	43	32	26	28	39	38	37	31	38	39	23
34	8	36	43	45	34	26	29	41	39	37	33	38	39	23
35	8	37	45	45	34	26	29	43	39	39	35	38	40	25
36	6	39	45	47	36	26	29	45	40	39	35	38	40	27
37	5	41	45	47	36	26	29	45	41	39	36	40	42	29
38	4	42	45	47	38	26	31	47	41	39	37	42	42	31
39	4	44	45	47	38	28	33	49	42	39	37	42	43	33
40	3	45	45	47	40	30	33	50	43	41	39	42	45	34
41	3	47	47	49	40	32	33	52	43	41	41	42	45	34
42	3	47	47	51	40	32	35	54	44	41	43	44	45	36
43	3	49	47	53	40	32	37	56	45	41	45	46	46	36
44	3	50	49	53	41	32	38	56	46	43	45	46	48	36
45	3	52	49	53	43	34	38	56	47	43	47	48	48	36
46	2	53	49	53	45	36	38	58	49	44	49	50	50	36
47	2	55	49	55	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	50	38
48	3	56	51	57	47	38	38	58	51	44	51	52	52	38
49	3	56	53	57	49	40	38	60	53	46	53	52	52	38
50	?	?	55	59	51	40	38	61	54	46	55	52	54	40