2011–12 Los Angeles Kings season

Regular season

On December 12, 2011, the Kings fired head coach Terry Murray and named John Stevens interim head coach. On December 20, 2011, the Kings hired Darryl Sutter to be their head coach, replacing Stevens.

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 loaded 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

Main article: 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, 2012 Stanley Cup Finals

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. (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 Finals, 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

Regular season

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Playoffs

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Player statistics

Skaters

Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/minus; PIM = Penalty minutes

• • Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Kings. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
• † Traded mid-season.
• ‡ Waived by Kings. Did not later rejoin Kings that season.
• Bold/italics denotes franchise record.}}

Goaltenders

• • Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Kings. Stats reflect time with the Kings only.
• † Traded mid-season.
• ‡ Waived by Kings. Did not later rejoin Kings that season.
• Bold/italics denotes franchise record.}}

Awards and records

Awards

Records

Milestones

Transactions

The Kings have been involved in the following transactions during the 2011–12 season.

Trades

Free agents acquired

Free agents lost

Acquired via waivers

Lost via waivers

Player signings

Draft picks

LA 's picks at the 2011 NHL entry draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Farm teams

[[Manchester Monarchs (AHL)|Manchester Monarchs]] (AHL)

The 2011–12 season will be the 11th season of AHL hockey for the franchise. The Monarchs clinched a playoff berth as the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2012 Calder Cup Playoffs and faced the Norfolk Admirals, where they were defeated 3 games to 1.

[[Ontario Reign (ECHL)|Ontario Reign]] (ECHL)

The 2011–12 season will be the fourth season of ECHL hockey for the franchise since moving to Ontario from Texas. It saw the Reign capture their second Pacific Division Regular Season championship and their second playoff berth. However, the Reign lost to the Idaho Steelheads in the first round of the 2012 Kelly Cup playoffs. The Reign have never advanced past the first round in their franchise history.

References

References

1. (12 June 2012). "Kings Capture the Cup With an Early Outburst". New York Times.
2. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=606083 Terry Murray Relieved of his Duties]
3. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=607461 Lombardi Gets His Man]
4. "2011-12 Los Angeles Kings Schedule and Results".
5. "2011-12 NHL Schedule and Results".
6. [https://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/recap?gid=2011092124 Kings slip past Coyotes 3–2]
7. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011010021 Coyotes 2, Kings 1 SO]
8. "Ducks 3, Kings 1".
9. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/recap.htm?id=2011010067 Penguins 3, Kings 2 SO]
10. "Kings 6, Avalanche 0".
11. "Kings 3, Ducks 1".
12. link. (October 6, 2011)
13. "Kings 5, Freezers 4".
14. "Kings 3, Rangers 2, OT".
15. "Sabres 4, Kings 2".
16. "Devils 2, Kings 1, SO".
17. "Kings 3, Flyers 2, OT".
18. "Kings 5, Blues 0".
19. "Kings 2, Coyotes 0".
20. "Kings 1, Stars 0".
21. "Devils 3, Kings 0".
22. "Kings 5, Stars 3".
23. "Coyotes 3, Kings 2, OT".
24. "Avalanche 3, Kings 2".
25. "Oilers 3, Kings 0".
26. "Penguins 3, Kings 2, SO".
27. "Sharks 4, Kings 2".
28. "Kings 4, Predators 3".
29. "Canucks 3, Kings 2".
30. "Kings 5, Wild 2".
31. "Kings 2, Ducks 1, SO".
32. "Kings 5, Ducks 3".
33. "Red Wings 4, Kings 1".
34. "Kings 3, Blues 2".
35. "Stars 3, Kings 2, OT".
36. "Blackhawks 2, Kings 1".
37. "Kings 2, Sharks 0".
38. "Kings 2, Panthers 1".
39. "Canadiens 2, Kings 1".
40. "Ducks 3, Kings 2".
41. "Wild 4, Kings 2".
42. "Stars 2, Kings 1".
43. "Bruins 3, Kings 0".
44. "Kings 2, Blue Jackets 1".
45. "Red Wings 8, Kings 2".
46. "Kings 3, Maple Leafs 2, SO".
47. "Kings 3, Ducks 2, SO".
48. "Sharks 2, Kings 1, SO".
49. "Kings 4, Coyotes 3".
50. "Kings 2, Blackhawks 0".
51. "Jets 1, Kings 0, OT".
52. "Kings 4, Canucks 1".
53. "Avalanche 2, Kings 1, SO".
54. "Kings 1, Coyotes 0, OT".
55. "Blue Jackets 1, Kings 0".
56. "Kings 5, Capitals 2".
57. "Stars 5, Kings 4, SO".
58. "Kings 4, Flames 1".
59. "Oilers 2, Kings 1, OT".
60. "Kings 3, Canucks 2, SO".
61. "Flames 2, Kings 1, SO".
62. "Avalanche 3, Kings 1".
63. "Kings 4, Senators 1".
64. "Kings 3, Blue Jackets 2".
65. "Blues 1, Kings 0".
66. "Hurricanes 2, Kings 1".
67. "Kings 3, Lightning 1".
68. "Panthers 3, Kings 1".
69. "Islanders 2, Kings 1, OT".
70. "Kings 4, Stars 2".
71. "Coyotes 1, Kings 0".
72. "Flames 1, Kings 0".
73. "Coyotes 5, Kings 4, SO".
74. "Avalanche 4, Kings 1".
75. "Kings 4, Blackhawks 0".
76. "Predators 2, Kings 1".
77. "Kings 4, Wild 0".
78. "Kings 4, Ducks 2".
79. "Kings 5, Predators 4".
80. "Blue Jackets 3, Kings 1".
81. "Red Wings 4, Kings 3".
82. "Kings 3, Blackhawks 2, SO".
83. "Kings 5, Red Wings 2".
84. "Kings 4, Ducks 2".
85. "Kings 4, Predators 2".
86. "Kings 5, Sharks 2".
87. "Kings 1, Blues 0, SO".
88. "Bruins 4, Kings 2".
89. "Canucks 1, Kings 0".
90. "Kings 3, Flames 0".
91. "Kings 4, Oilers 1".
92. "Wild 4, Kings 3, SO".
93. "Kings 2, Oilers 0".
94. "Sharks 6, Kings 5, SO".
95. "Sharks 3, Kings 2, OT".
96. "Kings 4, Canucks 2".
97. "Kings 4, Canucks 2".
98. "Kings 1, Canucks 0".
99. "Canucks 3, Kings 1".
100. "Kings 2, Canucks 1, OT".
101. "Kings 3, Blues 1".
102. "Kings 5, Blues 2".
103. "Kings 4, Blues 2".
104. "Kings 3, Blues 1".
105. "Kings 4, Coyotes 2".
106. "Kings 4, Coyotes 0".
107. "Kings 2, Coyotes 1".
108. "Coyotes avoid sweep with 2-0 win".
109. "Kings 4, Coyotes 3, OT".
110. "Kings 2, Devils 1, OT".
111. "Kings 2, Devils 1, OT".
112. "Kings 4, Devils 0".
113. "Devils 3, Kings 1".
114. "Devils 2, Kings 1".
115. "Kings 6, Devils 1".
116. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=597238 Quick's dominance earns him NHL's 'First Star']
117. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=604710 Moulson, O'Reilly, Quick named as 'Three Stars']
118. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=609382 Stamkos, Ovechkin, Quick earn Three Star nods]
119. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=634422 Quick uses historic stinginess to claim Conn Smythe]
120. [https://www.espn.com/espys/story/_/id/8158208/lebron-james-justin-verlander-robert-griffin-iii-espy-nominees LeBron James big winner at ESPYS]
121. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566864 Kings Acquire All-Star Center Mike Richards As Part Of A Three-Player Blockbuster Trade With The Philadelphia Flyers]
122. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=566974 Kings Make Splash with Trade for Richards]
123. [http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=567362 Defensemen deals highlight draft weekend trades]
124. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=567390 Kings Acquire F Colin Fraser and a 2012 7th-Round Pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft from the Oilers for F Ryan Smyth]
125. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=595631 Kings Acquire Stefan Legein, Draft Pick From Philly]
126. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=618585 Kings Acquire Jeff Carter from Columbus]
127. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568327 Simon Gagne Signs Two-Year Deal with Kings]
128. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587300 Kings Sign Moreau to One-Year Deal]
129. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=589999 Kings Sign F Cam Paddock and D Alex Roach]
130. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=590587 Kigns Sign F Trent Hunter to One-Year Contract]
131. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=622395 Kings Sign Forward Brian O'Neill To One-Year Entry Level Contract]
132. (2011-05-19). "Moller finished for two years". [[Skellefteå AIK.
133. [https://sharks.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568238 Big Center Handzus A Free Agent Signee]
134. [https://hurricanes.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568130 Canes Agree to Terms with Alexei Ponikarovsky]
135. (2011-07-18). "Corey Elkins will play in Pardubice". [[HC Pardubice]].
136. (2011-07-25). "Canadian Forward Clear". [[Skellefteå AIK.
137. [https://devils.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587256 New Jersey Devils Sign 12 Players]
138. (2011-09-08). "John Zeiler Wird Ein Panther". [[Augsburger Panther]].
139. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=563584 Kings Sign Two Prospects to 3-Year Entry Level Contracts]
140. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=564318 Kings Sign Prospect Nicolas Deslauriers To A Three-Year Entry Level Contract]
141. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=568909 Martinez Signed to Two-Year Extension]
142. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569240 Kings, Richardson Agree to Two-Year Deal]
143. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569510 Kings, Lewis Agree on Two-Year Extension]
144. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=569512 Six Players Agree to Terms with Kings]
145. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=588940 Kings Sign Westgarth to two-year extension]
146. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=590510 Kings, Doughty Get the Deal Done]
147. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=595633 Kings Sign Forwards Czarnik, Andreoff]
148. [https://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=618795 Kings Sign Willie Mitchell To Two-Year Extension]