Game 70: Kings 4, Predators 2

To peep out all the videos online about this game, check out today's Hockeywood Dailies.

To paraphrase Darth Vader: "Impressive. Most impressive."

The Kings finished up their four-game road trip with a convincing 4-2 victory over the Nashville Predators. In the process of their week-long trek, they have defeated four teams that are just as desperate as they are to establish themselves in the Western Conference.

With goals from Anze Kopitar, Alec Martinez, Wayne Simmonds and an empty-netter from Dustin Brown locked up the Kings' 40th win of the season. With the win, the Kings set another benchmark: they have now registered back-to-back 40-win seasons.

Speaking of Kopitar, he set a record as soon as he stepped on the ice: he became the Kings' newest Ironman, playing in 325 consecutive games for the franchise, topping Marcel Dionne. The streak started a day after the Kings acquired defenseman Jack Johnson.

Kopitar's opening goal was his 25th of the season, and he also matched his season total for assists that he set last season with 47. The Slovenian Stunner has elevated his game, just in time for the playoff run. He's elbowed his way into the top 10 of the league scoring. He also boasts the best +/- in the top ten, and should be considered a candidate for the Lady Byng trophy.

The matchup in goal seemed to be a real slobberknocker, since both Jonny Quick and Pekka Rinne were 2-3 in the league is goals against. Not only that, but the Preds boasts the league's top goals against average in the league with 2.28 GAA.

Turns out, coach Terry Murray had an ace up his sleeve, in the form of Jonathan Bernier. Bernier never looked rattled in goal, turning away 31 shots in the win. Here's a state for you: Bernier is 3-0 with a 0.96 goals-against average in Nashville. His nickname should be Chris Hanson, since he's a Predator predator. Plus, the Preds' GAA took a hit, and is now currently 2nd.

Since I have lived in Long Beach the majority of my life, I feel obligated to point out Long Beach kid Jonathan Blum scored his second NHL goal. Blum is the Predators' top-rated prospect on HockeysFuture.com. He is the first California player drafted in first round. Guess what his favorite team was? Yup, the Kings. The Daily News' J.P. Hoornstra had a nice writeup on Blum prior to the game. Check it out here.

The Kings now start a five-game homestand, starting with the Blues on Thursday. If the Kings win seven out of their remaining 12 games, they'll beat last season's win total. Add to that Jonny Quick's push for 40 wins, and the end of the season is shaping up to be exciting.

• AP: Kings sweep road swing with 4-2 win in Nashville

The Los Angeles Kings have found quite a rhythm on the road, and coach Terry Murray hopes they won’t skip a beat now that they’re heading back West for a five-game homestand.

• LAKings.com: Iron man rocks Music City

Detroit is trying to lock down a division title. Columbus, Dallas and Nashville are all in desperate fights to stay in the top eight in the Western Conference.  The Kings beat them all. On the road. In the last month of the season.

• NHL.com: Kings beat Predators 4-2 to complete perfect trip

The Predators came in trailing fifth-place Los Angeles by only three points in the West, but they had a two-game winning streak snapped and missed out on a chance to move from ninth into one of the top eight spots.

• Tennessean.com: Home loss hurts Predators

The only good news for the Predators came in games they weren't playing in. Dallas and Calgary, in seventh and eighth places, respectively, both lost, meaning the Predators (35-25-10) ended the night in the same position they entered it — ninth place with 80 points. 

They said it

"Obviously to go 4-0 right now, it doesn’t happen very often. We approach it just like playoffs. It’s the playoffs for us. The playoffs are at stake, and you’ve got to play right to your potential every night. I think that’s what we showed, throughout these four games.” - Anze Kopitar, on the 4-0 road trip.

  "I think, since last year, we haven’t made very many mistakes after going into the third period with the lead. Tonight, we gave up a goal, which we would like back, but we came out unscathed and we got the two points, and that’s huge. That’s the way playoff hockey is going to be, and we’ve been in playoff mode for a little while now.” - Wayne Simmonds, on being able to play well in tight games.

“It’s all about the mental side. I think it’s just the type of team that gives me a lot of action and keeps me in the game. I felt good the whole game. I don’t know if part of it is because I’m in Nashville (laughs). ” - Jonathan Bernier, on his success in Nashville.

“That was a very long trip in February. This was a four-gamer, but the importance of all these games, for everybody we played, was very significant, in the standings and in playoff races. To play hard every shift, and just get the job done, it says a lot about the way the team has come together, the character of the group." - Terry Murray, on finishing off the road trip with a win, unlike Long Island.

"It's always tough when you're going against teams you’re battling for position in the playoffs. Whenever they're above you, you want to bring you’re 'A' game. Unfortunately we didn't do that." - Predators defenseman Ryan Suter.