We saw more of the same headline and story for the Los Angeles Kings (14-8-9) and head coach Jim Hiller on Saturday night (Dec. 13) against the Calgary Flames (13-6-4) on home ice at Crypto.com Arena this weekend. The Kings and Hiller forced yesterday's game against the Flames in the Pacific Division into overtime on home ice last night, but ultimately fell short by a score of 2-1.
Darcy Kuemper plays well in between the pipes in net in the Los Angeles Kings offensive struggles in overtime against the Flames
The Kings took the momentum on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period on a goal by forward Adrian Kempe. Calgary pushed back on the ice to tie the game up on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period on a goal on the break rush by Blake Coleman for the Flames in the middle of the game.
Hiller's squad looked to have won the game in overtime a few minutes into the extra time yesterday night vs. Calgary, but the goal was called back after a video review by the referees due to a kicking motion in front of the net.
Soon after the goal was called back on video review for the Kings, the Flames won the game in overtime on a goal scored by Morgan Frost for Calgary yesterday. Next up for Hiller and the Kings is a three-game road trip in the East starting this upcoming week on Monday night (Dec. 15).
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' tiring loss by a score of 2-1 in overtime at home at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night (Dec. 13) against the Flames in the Pacific Division.
Darcy Kuemper is holding this team together defensively
I think the only reason the Kings and Hiller were close in this game for the game's final 15 minutes in the final frame in the third period was the play of starting goalie Darcy Kuemper defensively. Even though he hasn't been considered a lock for Team Canada in the Olympics in 2026 in Italy, Kuemper has been playing like a Vezina Trophy finalist in the West this regular season this fall.
It's hard to think where this team would be in the standings in the division in the West early this regular season if not for the heroics and opportunities on Kuemper in this past couple of months for the Kings' team.
"He was the reason why we got the one point, really. Second period, he was outstanding. I mean, he’s been outstanding all year and last year. We almost take it for granted, so we’ve got to find ways to score more goals and give him some run support. "Anze Kopitar on Darcy Kuemper
For the fourth game in a row this month in early-to-mid December, Kuemper stopped at least four high-danger scoring chances in clutch time in the game's final 25 minutes late in games for the Kings in the defensive zone (per Money Puck).
Offense is still lacking for the Kings this regular season
After last night's loss to the Flames in the Pacific Division, the Kings rank in the bottom two teams in goals scored in the Western Conference this fall. The Kings have scored one or fewer goals in seven out of eight games this regular season, which resulted in a drop in the standings in the West this campaign for the team.
I think the only saving grace recently this month in early-to-mid December this fall for the Kings has been the goal-scoring efforts of Kempe on the ice for the team. Kempe has a four-game point streak for the Kings, and he's scored two goals in the past three games this past week in the West.
"Seattle didn’t have that much at 5-on-5, they had their stuff in the power play. Tonight, these guys had plenty of 5-on-5, so that that wasn’t good enough, but in both those last two games, we just didn’t generate again. I mean, that’s just the bottom line. If we’re in the o-zone and hanging on to pucks and even spending time just wearing them out a little bit, it happens to you, you’re out there for 20 seconds, now you pretty much just put the puck out and go make a line change and that’s what was happening to us."Jim Hiller
This is the same issue that has plagued Hiller and the Kings for the past month or so this fall. The Kings can't score on the power play on special teams this regular season, costing the team points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division.
A trade feels likely to happen this season for the Kings and Ken Holland
In this past week or so, the Kings and new general manager Ken Holland have been reported to be considering trade possibilities to get more offensive help this regular season in the West. The Kings seem to be losing their chance to be the top team in the standings in the West in the Pacific this fall with other big trades and moves in the headlines going around in Minnesota.
This past year at the trade deadline, the Kings got better offensively with more help with the top-nine core forward lines group with the trade move for winger Andrei Kuzmenko. The team needs to get more pucks going in to the net this regular season in the West.