2011–12 Los Angeles Kings season

The 2011–12 Los Angeles Kings season was the 45th season (44th season of play) for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. Although they finished the season with 95 points and the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs, they went on to capture the first Stanley Cup championship in team history.

Regular season On December 12, 2011, the Kings fired head coach Terry Murray and named John Stevens interim head coach.Terry Murray Relieved of his Duties On December 20, 2011, the Kings hired Darryl Sutter to be their head coach, replacing Stevens.Lombardi Gets His Man

With only one month to play in the regular season, the Kings were tenth in the Western Conference, two seeds away from a playoff spot. Their defense and goal tending were the only highlights throughout most of the season, highlighted by Jonathan Quick and Drew Doughty. The offense was lirstoaded with talent, but unable to find any kind of significant consistency until the final month and a half, when they proceeded to go 12–4–3 in their final 19 games as their offense finally caught fire and started scoring the goals they lacked earlier in the year. They secured the eighth and final playoff seed in their 81st (and second-to-last game), a shoot-out loss to their arch rivals, the San Jose Sharks.

Out of the Kings' 82 regular season games, 21 ended in a shutout; the Kings were shut-out ten times, the most of any NHL team in the regular season.

Playoffs

The Kings made the playoffs for the third consecutive season, needing a win in the final game to secure the eighth seed. The Kings also became the second team to eliminate the first, second and third seeds from the playoffs in the same post-season (after the 2003–04 Calgary Flames), as well as the only team to win the Stanley Cup after defeating the first, second and third seeds in sequence, and the only team to ever win the Stanley Cup after defeating the Presidents' Trophy winner in the first round. (Darryl Sutter was the head coach of both the 2003–04 Flames and 2011–12 Kings.) They then defeated the New Jersey Devils in the Stanley Cup Final, becoming the first eighth seed in North American professional sports history to win a championship. They are also one of the few teams to win a championship after never benefiting from home-venue advantage in the post-season after the 1994-95 New Jersey Devils. The Kings became the third team in NHL history to win a championship with a losing record, having just 40 wins in the regular season. Los Angeles would start every series by winning the first three games, only sweeping the St. Louis Blues.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2011 pre-season game log: 4–2–2 (Home: 1–1–0; Road: 3–0–1; Neutral: 0–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Record Recap 1 September 21 Los Angeles Kings (SS) 3–2 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) Zatkoff (1–0–0) 1–0–0 Kings slip past Coyotes 3–2 2 September 21 Phoenix Coyotes (SS) 2–1 Los Angeles Kings (SS) SO Jones (0–0–1) 1–0–1 Coyotes 2, Kings 1 SO 3 September 25 Anaheim Ducks 3–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (0–1–0) 1–1–1 4 September 27 (in Kansas City, MO) Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Bernier (0–0–1) 1–1–2 Penguins 3, Kings 2 SO 5 September 28 Los Angeles Kings 6–0 Colorado Avalanche Quick (1–1–0) 2–1–2 6 September 30 Los Angeles Kings 3–1 Anaheim Ducks Bernier (1–0–1) 3–1–2 7 October 1 (in Las Vegas, NV) Colorado Avalanche 4–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (1–2–0) 3–2–2 Avalanche 4, Kings 1 8 October 4 (in Hamburg, Germany) Los Angeles Kings 5–4 Hamburg Freezers Bernier (2–0–1) 4–2–2 (SS) = Split-squad games.

Regular season 2011–12 game log October: 6–3–2 (Home: 3–2–0; Road: 3–1–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 (in Stockholm, Sweden) New York Rangers 2–3 Los Angeles Kings OT Quick (1–0–0) 13,800 1–0–0 2 2 October 8 (in Berlin, Germany) Buffalo Sabres 4–2 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (0–1–0) 14,300 1–1–0 2 3 October 13 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 New Jersey Devils SO Quick (1–0–1) 12,256 1–1–1 3 4 October 15 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 Philadelphia Flyers OT Quick (2–0–1) 19,644 2–1–1 5 5 October 18 St. Louis Blues 0–5 Los Angeles Kings Quick (3–0–1) 18,118 3–1–1 7 6 October 20 Los Angeles Kings 2–0 Phoenix Coyotes Quick (4–0–1) 7,128 4–1–1 9 7 October 22 Dallas Stars 0–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (5–0–1) 18,118 5–1–1 11 8 October 25 New Jersey Devils 3–0 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (0–2–0) 18,118 5–2–1 11 9 October 27 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Dallas Stars Quick (6–0–1) 8,443 6–2–1 13 10 October 29 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Phoenix Coyotes OT Quick (6–0–2) 10,379 6–2–2 14 11 October 30 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Colorado Avalanche Quick (6–1–2) 12,355 6–3–2 14 November: 6–5–2 (Home: 4–4–1; Road: 2–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 12 November 3 Edmonton Oilers 3–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (6–2–2) 18,118 6–4–2 14 13 November 5 Pittsburgh Penguins 3–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (6–2–3) 18,118 6–4–3 15 14 November 7 Los Angeles Kings 2–4 San Jose Sharks Quick (6–3–3) 17,562 6–5–3 15 15 November 8 Nashville Predators 3–4 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (1–2–0) 17,963 7–5–3 17 16 November 10 Vancouver Canucks 3–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (6–4–3) 18,118 7–6–3 17 17 November 12 Minnesota Wild 2–5 Los Angeles Kings Quick (7–4–3) 18,118 8–6–3 19 18 November 16 Anaheim Ducks 1–2 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (8–4–3) 18,118 9–6–3 21 19 November 17 Los Angeles Kings 5–3 Anaheim Ducks Quick (9–4–3) 15,412 10–6–3 23 20 November 19 Detroit Red Wings 4–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (9–5–3) 18,118 10–7–3 23 21 November 22 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 St. Louis Blues Bernier (2–2–0) 18,178 11–7–3 25 22 November 23 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Dallas Stars OT Quick (9–5–4) 11,779 11–7–4 26 23 November 26 Chicago Blackhawks 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (9–6–4) 18,118 11–8–4 26 24 November 28 San Jose Sharks 0–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (10–6–4) 18,118 12–8–4 28 December: 7–6–2 (Home: 4–3–0; Road: 3–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Florida Panthers 1–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (11–6–4) 17,720 13–8–4 30 26 December 3 Montreal Canadiens 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (2–3–0) 18,118 13–9–4 30 27 December 6 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 Anaheim Ducks Quick (11–7–4) 14,419 13–10–4 30 28 December 8 Minnesota Wild 4–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (11–8–4) 18,118 13–11–4 30 29 December 10 Dallas Stars 2–1 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (2–4–0) 18,118 13–12–4 30 30 December 13 Los Angeles Kings 0–3 Boston Bruins Quick (11–9–4) 17,565 13–13–4 30 31 December 15 Los Angeles Kings 2–1 Columbus Blue Jackets Quick (12–9–4) 16,090 14–13–4 32 32 December 17 Los Angeles Kings 2–8 Detroit Red Wings Quick (12–10–4) 20,066 14–14–4 32 33 December 19 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 Toronto Maple Leafs SO Quick (13–10–4) 19,521 15–14–4 34 34 December 22 Anaheim Ducks 2–3 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (14–10–4) 18,118 16–14–4 36 35 December 23 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 San Jose Sharks SO Quick (14–10–5) 17,562 16–14–5 37 36 December 26 Phoenix Coyotes 3–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (15–10–5) 18,118 17–14–5 39 37 December 28 Los Angeles Kings 2–0 Chicago Blackhawks Quick (16–10–5) 22,066 18–14–5 41 38 December 29 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 Winnipeg Jets OT Bernier (2–4–1) 15,004 18–14–6 42 39 December 31 Vancouver Canucks 1–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (17–10–5) 18,118 19–14–6 44 January: 5–3–4 (Home: 4–2–3; Road: 1–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 40 January 2 Colorado Avalanche 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (17–10–6) 18,118 19–14–7 45 41 January 5 Phoenix Coyotes 0–1 Los Angeles Kings OT Quick (18–10–6) 18,118 20–14–7 47 42 January 7 Columbus Blue Jackets 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (18–11–6) 18,118 20–15–7 47 43 January 9 Washington Capitals 2–5 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (3–4–1) 18,118 21–15–7 49 44 January 12 Dallas Stars 5–4 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (18–11–7) 18,118 21–15–8 50 45 January 14 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 Calgary Flames Quick (19–11–7) 19,289 22–15–8 52 46 January 15 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 Edmonton Oilers OT Quick (19–11–8) 16,839 22–15–9 53 47 January 17 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 Vancouver Canucks SO Quick (20–11–8) 18,890 23–15–9 55 48 January 19 Calgary Flames 2–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (20–11–9) 18,118 23–15–10 56 49 January 21 Colorado Avalanche 3–1 Los Angeles Kings Quick (20–12–9) 18,118 23–16–10 56 50 January 23 Ottawa Senators 1–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (21–12–9) 18,118 24–16–10 58 February: 5–7–2 (Home: 2–2–0; Road: 3–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 1 Columbus Blue Jackets 2–3 Los Angeles Kings Quick (22–12–9) 18,118 25–16–10 60 52 February 3 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 St. Louis Blues Quick (22–13–9) 18,811 25–17–10 60 53 February 4 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 Carolina Hurricanes Bernier (3–5–1) 18,680 25–18–10 60 54 February 7 Los Angeles Kings 3–1 Tampa Bay Lightning Quick (23–13–9) 16,489 26–18–10 62 55 February 9 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Florida Panthers Quick (23–14–9) 14,929 26–19–10 62 56 February 11 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 New York Islanders OT Quick (23–14–10) 13,079 26–19–11 63 57 February 12 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Dallas Stars Quick (24–14–10) 12,191 27–19–11 65 58 February 16 Phoenix Coyotes 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (24–15–10) 18,118 27–20–11 65 59 February 18 Calgary Flames 1–0 Los Angeles Kings Quick (24–16–10) 18,118 27–21–11 65 60 February 21 Los Angeles Kings 4–5 Phoenix Coyotes SO Quick (24–16–11) 10,842 27–21–12 66 61 February 22 Los Angeles Kings 1–4 Colorado Avalanche Quick (24–17–11) 15,907 27–22–12 66 62 February 25 Chicago Blackhawks 0–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (25–17–11) 18,118 28–22–12 68 63 February 27 Los Angeles Kings 1–2 Nashville Predators Quick (25–18–11) 15,665 28–23–12 68 64 February 28 Los Angeles Kings 4–0 Minnesota Wild Bernier (4–5–1) 17,317 29–23–12 70 March: 10–4–1 (Home: 5–1–0; Road: 5–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 3 Anaheim Ducks 2–4 Los Angeles Kings Quick (26–18–11) 18,301 30–23–12 72 66 March 6 Los Angeles Kings 5–4 Nashville Predators Quick (27–18–11) 17,113 31–23–12 74 67 March 8 Los Angeles Kings 1–3 Columbus Blue Jackets Bernier (4–6–1) 14,306 31–24–12 74 68 March 9 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Detroit Red Wings Quick (27–19–11) 20,066 31–25–12 74 69 March 11 Los Angeles Kings 3–2 Chicago Blackhawks SO Quick (28–19–11) 21,398 32–25–12 76 70 March 13 Detroit Red Wings 2–5 Los Angeles Kings Quick (29–19–11) 18,118 33–25–12 78 71 March 16 Los Angeles Kings 4–2 Anaheim Ducks Quick (30–19–11) 17,367 34–25–12 80 72 March 17 Nashville Predators 2–4 Los Angeles Kings Bernier (5–6–1) 18,118 35–25–12 82 73 March 20 San Jose Sharks 2–5 Los Angeles Kings Quick (31–19–11) 18,118 36–25–12 84 74 March 22 St. Louis Blues 0–1 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (32–19–11) 18,118 37–25–12 86 75 March 24 Boston Bruins 4–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (32–20–11) 18,310 37–26–12 86 76 March 26 Los Angeles Kings 0–1 Vancouver Canucks Quick (32–21–11) 18,890 37–27–12 86 77 March 28 Los Angeles Kings 3–0 Calgary Flames Quick (33–21–11) 19,289 38–27–12 88 78 March 30 Los Angeles Kings 4–1 Edmonton Oilers Quick (34–21–11) 16,839 39–27–12 90 79 March 31 Los Angeles Kings 3–4 Minnesota Wild SO Bernier (5–6–2) 18,209 39–27–13 91 April: 1–0–2 (Home: 1–0–1; Road: 0–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 2 Edmonton Oilers 0–2 Los Angeles Kings Quick (35–21–11) 18,118 40–27–13 93 81 April 5 San Jose Sharks 6–5 Los Angeles Kings SO Quick (35–21–12) 18,330 40–27–14 94 82 April 7 Los Angeles Kings 2–3 San Jose Sharks OT Quick (35–21–13) 17,562 40–27–15 95 Legend:

Playoffs