Perfect!

Wow! What a road trip! The Kings finished their five-game trip with arguably their grittiest win of the season, a 3-2 shocker in Jersey, completing their perfect 5-0 trip.

The Kings have now won six straight overall and eight of nine. They've won eight straight on the road and have a league-best 19 road wins. And more importantly, they're racking up points in the standings that they left behind in December during their little mid-season slide.

Couple things stood out to me watching yesterday's win in Jersey. First, was the goal by Wayne Simmonds late in the third period. The goal they scored at the end of the second period probably kept them in the game, but Simmonds' goal from the sharp angle to the right of Devils net-minder was a huge blow to the Devils. It not only tied the game, but it set up their third goal about a minute and a half later when Drew Doughty's slap shot from straight out just inside the line on the power play gave the Kings the lead for good.

By tying the game, it allowed the Kings to keep Jon Quick in net without having to pull him for the man-advantage, and then they went on the power play and got the man-advantage that way.

The other thing that stood out to me aside from the Kings grinding it throughout the game even though they looked liftless and tired for most of the first period was the play of Quick in net. Quick made perhaps the save of the year about mid-way through the third when he made a no-look glove save from a point blank shot from his left. That, folks, was the turning point in the game.

You can't help but be in awe of this Kings team. In years past, they wouldn't have recovered from their December slide. Instead, they battled through adversity and have turned it around that quickly, and are now playing important games into February. The way they have fought through the hiccups of December to get to where they are now tells you a lot about the character of this team. The kids have learned to grow up and it seems like they're ready to take this to the next level.

Let's hope they keep this rolling tomorrow against the Rangers back at Staples, and let's hope the upcoming Olympic break doesn't slow them down they get back at the end of the month.