It seems nobody wants that final playoff spot in the West Division so why not the Kings? 

LA is 3-3 in its last six games with two of those losses coming to the powerful Golden Knights. Mediocre yes, but the Kings are back in the Stanley Cup hunt considering how poorly the Coyotes, Blues and Sharks have been playing. 

A Kings victory would move them within three points of tying for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. Arizona and St. Louis are each 3-7 in its last 10 games, while San Jose has dropped seven in a row.

Minnesota is 5-2 versus the Kings this season. But if you reverse three overtime victories by the Wild in the series then LA would be 5-2. 

This is just the second time all season the Kings will have a crowd. They had about 1,500 fans at Staples Center when they defeated the Ducks, 4-1, during their previous game. That was this past Tuesday. So the Kings have had two full days to prepare for this key matchup. 

Minnesota usually doesn't play as well on the road as it does at home. The Wild have lost five of their last seven road contests. 

The Wild have really improved their power play scoring on 42.9 percent of their chances this month, best in the league. The Kings' major strength, though, is having the fifth-best power play killing unit in the NHL.