LOS ANGELES -- In the last 13 games, the Los Angeles Kings have played each of the league's division leaders and hold a 3-1 record in those games, outscoring the opposition 14-8, with their only loss coming in a 2-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It's premature to call the Kings a legitimate contender, but they're scratching the surface of that conversation. They're one of the best defensive teams in hockey, and the addition of Andrei Kuzmenko has revitalized their offense, particularly on the man advantage.
I won't count on this team to win a playoff series until I see them do it, especially after three consecutive first-round exits, but this is the most confident I've been in the Kings heading into the playoffs, even in a fourth-straight matchup against the Edmonton Oilers.
Quinton Byfield is emerging as a top-end center in the league, Darcy Keumper continues to be lights-out in net, the aforementioned Kuzmenko affect and the Kings' incredible defensive structure all seem like recipes for success this go around.
It's important not to let recency bias distract you from some flaws that still exist with this Kings team. They still lack to true high-end, superstar talent of the true contenders in the league and they frequently play on thin margins because of their more defensive style, which can bite you in the playoffs.
We also haven't seen this version of Byfield in the playoffs and who knows if Kuzmenko can keep up his current play into the postseason, but there's a very clear path to playoff success for the Kings, which was difficult to say last season.
You can add a few more serious question marks into the mix, too. Can they stop the duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the playoffs? Will their home success translate into the postseason? Can they handle the special team's battle against Edmonton without getting blown away again?
But at some point, when you keep beating the best teams in hockey, you have to start being entered into the conversation with those teams.
We won't know if the Kings are "fake good" again until we see how they fare in the playoffs, but the signs are promising in Los Angeles.