Los Angeles Kings key statistics

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three key statistics for the Los Angeles Kings:

Kings 31 IN 31: [Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]

1. Power-play percentage

The Kings power play needs to improve after finishing 27th in the NHL (15.8 percent) and scoring the fifth-fewest goals (35) last season. Los Angeles scored the fewest power-play goals (12) and had the lowest power-play percentage (11.9 percent) on the road. Despite the struggles with the man-advantage, defenseman Drew Doughty had his second consecutive season with at least 20 power-play points (24). One explanation for the Kings' lackluster power play could be that center Anze Kopitar scored one power-play goal, six fewer than in 2017-18, and forward Ilya Kovalchuk had nine power-play points, the first time in his career he didn't reach double digits in a full NHL season.

2. Shot attempts

The Kings finished 23rd in the NHL in shot attempts differential (SAT) at minus-289, down from plus-3 in 2017-18 and a steep drop from their NHL-leading plus-720 in 2016-17. Kopitar had a minus-186 SAT, the second worst on the Kings ahead of only defenseman Derek Forbort's minus-204. Forward Dustin Brown was minus-172, the third worst, and Doughty was minus-165, the fourth worst. Compounding the issue is that Doughty led the Kings in total ice time, Kopitar was second, Forbort was third, and Brown was fourth, meaning the Kings were heavily outshot when facing the opposing team's best players, a situation the Kings used to dominate.

3. Campbell's save percentage

The Kings got a preview last season of their potential future goalies, Jack Campbell and
Cal Petersen
. Campbell was 10-14-1 with a .928 save percentage, which ranked third among NHL goalies who played at least 25 games. Petersen was 5-4-1 with a .924 save percentage in 11 games and signed a three-year contract July 16. No. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick will turn 34 on Jan. 21, signaling there could be a shift to Campbell and Petersen sooner rather than later.
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