Honestly, if you looked at the Los Angeles Kings during the regular season in any of their championship years, you’d probably have bet against them. Most people do. They aren’t the team that glides through the winter with a target on their back. They’re the ones who barely make the cut, then turn into an absolute nightmare for everyone else as soon as the calendar hits April.
The LA Kings playoff history is a wild, jagged timeline of "Miracles on Manchester," illegal hockey sticks, and two of the most improbable Stanley Cup runs in the history of the NHL.
The Miracle That Started It All
Before we talk about the rings, we have to talk about 1982. This was the year of the "Miracle on Manchester." It’s basically the moment Kings fans realized that no lead—not even a 5-0 deficit against the greatest player in the world—is safe.
The Kings were facing the Edmonton Oilers, led by a young Wayne Gretzky. By the start of the third period in Game 3, they were down 5-0. Most of the crowd at the Great Western Forum had probably already started their cars. But then, the Kings scored one. Then another. With five seconds left on the clock, Steve Bozek tied it at 5-5.
Daryl Evans eventually buried the winner in overtime.
It was statistically ridiculous. It remains the largest comeback in NHL playoff history. Even though they didn't win the Cup that year, it set the tone for what the franchise would become: a group that refuses to die when they're down.
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That 1993 Run and the Curse of the Curved Blade
Most older fans still get a twitch in their eye when you mention Marty McSorley. In 1993, the Kings finally made their first Stanley Cup Final. They had the Great One. They had Luc Robitaille and Jari Kurri. They had all the momentum after beating Toronto in a brutal seven-game series.
They won Game 1 in Montreal. They were winning Game 2.
Then, Jacques Demers, the Canadiens coach, called for a stick measurement on McSorley’s blade. It was illegal. The curve was too deep. Montreal scored on the resulting power play, won the game in OT, and then won the next three.
The Kings' first real shot at glory evaporated because of a fraction of an inch of carbon fiber. It was brutal.
2012: The 8th Seed That Broke the League
Fast forward to 2012. This is where the LA Kings playoff history actually changes forever. They entered the postseason as the 8th seed. They had fired their coach, Terry Murray, in December and brought in Darryl Sutter, a man who looks like he’s perpetually smelling something sour.
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What followed was a total dismantling of the Western Conference.
- They beat the 1st-seeded Vancouver Canucks in 5 games.
- They swept the 2nd-seeded St. Louis Blues.
- They beat the 3rd-seeded Phoenix Coyotes in 5 games.
They became the first team in NHL history to enter as an 8th seed and take down the top three seeds in their conference. Jonathan Quick was playing like he was from another planet, posting a .946 save percentage. They went 16-4. It wasn't even a struggle; it was a coronation.
2014: The Cardiac Kings
If 2012 was easy, 2014 was a grueling, soul-crushing marathon. The Kings played 26 playoff games that year—the maximum possible at the time. They were down 3-0 in the first round against the San Jose Sharks. Everyone thought it was over.
They won four straight. Reverse sweep.
Then they went to seven games against the Ducks. Then seven games against the Blackhawks. By the time they reached the Final against the New York Rangers, they had already played three Game 7s on the road. They were exhausted, but they were inevitable. Alec Martinez eventually scored the "Jazz Hands" goal in double overtime of Game 5, and the Kings had two Cups in three years.
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All-Time Playoff Leaders
When you look at the stats, the names that pop up aren't just local legends; they're the guys who showed up when the pressure was highest.
- Wayne Gretzky: Holds the franchise record for most points in a single playoff season (40 in 1993).
- Anze Kopitar: The modern engine. He led the team in scoring during both the 2012 and 2014 runs.
- Jonathan Quick: 370 career wins, but it's the 2012 Conn Smythe that defines him.
- Justin Williams: "Mr. Game 7." He earned that nickname in LA because he simply did not lose when the season was on the line.
Why Does This Matter Now?
Kinda feels like the Kings are in a weird spot lately. They’ve had a few first-round exits against Edmonton (ironic, right?) over the last few years. But history tells us that for this team, the regular season record is almost irrelevant.
They don't need home-ice advantage. Honestly, they seem to hate it. The 2012 team went 10-1 on the road. The 2014 team won three Game 7s in other people's buildings.
If you're looking to understand this team's DNA, don't look at the standings. Look at how they play when their backs are against the wall. They are a "heavy" team—they grind you down, they play a suffocating defensive system, and they wait for you to make a mistake.
Actionable Insights for Following the Kings:
- Watch the road splits: The Kings historically perform better when they are the "villain" in a hostile arena.
- Pay attention to the 1-3-1 neutral zone trap: It's a polarizing system, but it's been the foundation of their playoff success for over a decade.
- Track the veterans: Players like Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty are the bridge to the championship era; their minutes and health usually dictate how far the team can go in a short series.