The Kings have the opportunity to extend their winning streak to six games on Monday when they host the Boston Bruins.

While the Kings have been tasked with playing three games in four nights, they were energetic throughout their back-to-back set, which consisted of decisive victories over the Ducks Friday and New York Islanders Saturday.

The Kings sit in second place in the Pacific Division, three games behind Calgary, winner of 11 of its last 12 games, and three ahead of Vegas, which fell to the NHL’s top team, Colorado, on Saturday.

“Everybody talks about a big game, but every game is a big game when you look at the standings. No one wants to get in that rut, that you’re going to lose three or four because you’re going to be out of it,” said Kings assistant coach Trent Yawney, who has run the bench while Todd McLellan has been in COVID protocols. “The game is ramped up, Boston is a good team, they’re looking for points. We’re welcoming the challenge and we’ll have our hands full.”

While the Kings have seen offseason acquisitions, rookie call-ups and the development of some players entering their primes give them a boost, they’ve also been aided by the resurgence of veteran defenseman Olli Maatta. He has skated in an effective shutdown pairing with Matt Roy and they have contributed to a penalty kill that has not allowed a power-play goal in its last four games.

Maatta, who won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins and at 27 is already in his ninth NHL campaign, was acquired from Chicago before last season. He was paired with Drew Doughty immediately, but that experiment proved ephemeral after Maatta struggled to find his footing. After improving in a third-pairing role late last year, he again found himself on shaky ground through the early part of this campaign despite the high standards to which he holds himself.

“Obviously I was not very happy with my first year. I definitely knew I could play better, and I could still play better,” Maatta said. “The work never stops. It just feels like you go through ups and downs, all the time, inside a year or season to season. You just can’t stop working, to keep getting better, that’s the main thing.”

An injury to Alex Edler in December appeared to open a window for Maatta to re-establish himself as a full-time player, but a stint in COVID protocols disrupted that opportunity.

Since his first game after exiting protocols, Maatta has posted a plus-13 rating, placing him in the top 15 league-wide during the span from Jan. 8 to present. His mark ranks second on the Kings behind forward Trevor Moore, who has recorded 19 points of his own during that stretch. Maatta’s rating is a testament to his defense, as he has scored no points during that stretch.

“Olli Maatta, in the last 15, 20 games, has been really, really solid for us,” Yawney said. “He’s really anchored that second pair with Roy, that’s allowed us, when we lost (Edler), to continue to forge forward.”

Maatta and Roy attributed their chemistry and success to constant communication, both during and between games.

Roy has also been steady and defensive-minded, having scored his first goal of the season on Saturday.

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“I’m sure the floodgates are open now,” Maatta said after the game.

Next, Maatta, Roy and the Kings will welcome the Bruins, who have situated themselves comfortably in a wild-card spot. They’ll be the Kings’ last opponent at home before a four-game road trip that ends with a visit to Boston to complete the season series on March 7.

Left winger Brad Marchand has racked up 52 points in 41 games, and right winger David Pastrnak has 51 points, albeit in 52 games. Charlie McAvoy remains Boston’s No. 1 defenseman and leading scorer on the blue line. Linus Ullmark and Jeremy Swayman have split goaltending duties almost evenly, with veteran Tuukka Rask having made four appearances before opting to retire.

Boston at Kings

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Crypto.com Arena

TV/Radio: Bally Sports West/iHeartRadio (English)/Tu Liga 1330 (Spanish)