When the Los Angeles Kings picked up their fifth consecutive win Monday night, you could almost hear the hockey community utter a collective groan.

None of the Kings’ competitors want to see them coming together because everyone understands that if the Kings make the playoffs, they could win the playoffs.

This is still essentially the same team that has won two Stanley Cups in the past three seasons.

We have been down this path before, watching this team sputter early and then pull together late in the season to become a monstrous force. It’s like Bruce Banner becoming the Hulk.

The Kings are still a heavy team, a gritty team, a top 10 defensive team, a squad that gives up a little more than 27 shots per game.

Even with their struggles, injuries and Slava Voynov’s suspension, the Kings still rank eighth in 5-on-5 scoring.

Don’t count out the Kings. At some point, the Kings’ early season nosedive will be too steep, and they won’t be able to pull up. But it is starting to look as if it won’t be this season.

The team’s biggest issue is plugging the hole left by Voynov’s suspension, and the expectation is that general manager Dean Lombardi will get his patchwork done by the March 2 trade deadline.

Lombardi has proved himself to be more than an able repairman when fixing his team. Remember, last season, he acquired Marian Gaborik, who was a critical part of the championship run.

The trade market doesn’t seem to have a player who fits the Kings as well as Voynov did. But there are players available who could strengthen the team defensively.

That’s all Lombardi needs to do. This is a team that knows how to play in April, May and June. The trick for them is simply earning an invite to the party.

Your games tonight

Columbus at Philadelphia, 7

Washington at Pittsburgh, 7

NY Islanders at Carolina, 7

Buffalo at New Jersey, 7:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network

Florida at Toronto, 7:30

Dallas at St. Louis, 8

San Jose at Nashville, 8

Follow the rest of USA TODAY Sports’ in-depth NHL coverage at nhl.usatoday.com. Follow Kevin Allen on Twitter @ByKevinAllen.