It was a good effort by head coach Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (14-10-9) to try and make a comeback on the scoreboard in the game's third period on Wednesday night (Dec. 17) against the Florida Panthers (18-13-2) on the road at Amerant Bank Arena. Hiller and the Kings were playing up-tempo and showing the necessary physicality and effort on both ends of the ice yesterday in the final frame in the third period.
Another blown-lead loss dooms Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings in Florida on Wednesday night
Forward Joel Armia opened up the scoring in the game's first period yesterday, scoring on special teams on the power play for Hiller and the Kings. But the Panthers went on a 3-0 scoring run on the scoreboard in the game's second and third periods in the final 30 minutes to jump ahead of the Kings.
Despite the strong effort to make a comeback on the scoreboard in the game's third period yesterday, the Kings still fell short of the Panthers by a score of 3-2. The Kings battled back to get a goal in the third period to get themselves back in the game on the scoreboard, but the team still fell to the Panthers by one goal when the clocked showed zeros at the end of the third period.
A combination of untimely errors and turnovers in the defensive zone and missed opportunities on high-danger scoring chances in the offensive zone caused the Kings to lose a fourth straight game on the road late this week. The loss yesterday means the Kings fall out of the top three teams in the Pacific Division standings this week.
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' one-goal loss to the Panthers on the road in Sunrise on Dec. 17.
Third period effort falls short
The Kings came out of the locker room in the final frame in the third period with a good amount of effort and energy on the ice to try and make a comeback on the scoreboard. Early in the game's third period, the Kings were playing physical and moving the puck well in the neutral and the offensive zone vs. the Panthers in the final frame.
"Clarke did a nice job sliding in the middle. We got two big guys, you’ve got Perry and Armia. I thought Perry tipped it, but in fact, was Armia in the middle. You’ll take that look every time. Those guys got have good hand eye coordination. So, yeah, that’s the type of goal we need."Jim Hiller
After the Kings had a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard at the end of the first period, it looked like the team was on a good pace to control the momentum on the ice and ultimately win this game. Armia's goal was a really positive sign for the Kings in the game's first period.
Armia has earned a bigger role with the Kings' team this regular season. He's exceeded expectations in almost every way for the Kings' core forward lines in the top nine early this regular season, including scoring the game's first goal in the opening frame in the first period yesterday on the road.
The two goals the Panthers scored in the second period was a backbreaker for the Kings and Hiller when it was all said and done in yesterday's game on the road in the final frame.
Florida puts the pressure on the Kings in the second period
Goalie Anton Forsberg did a nice job keeping the Kings in the game in the first and second periods in the first 40 minutes on the scoreboard yesterday in the net. He registered over a dozen saves on medium and high-danger scoring chances from the Panthers in the game's first 40 minutes yesterday.
The goals scored on the power play on special teams by Anton Lundell and forward Carter Verhaeghe in the game's second period for Florida handed the momentum on the ice and on the scoreboard to the Panthers when it mattered in this game in the middle frame.
When the Kings were playing more physical and winning key faceoffs yesterday, it looked like the team was on pace to push back in the third period in the final frame vs. Florida.
"Tonight, even in Dallas, I thought overall, it’s pretty solid games both nights. But, if you’re not getting points, it feels almost useless. I know no one’s really happy. Obviously you’re happy with the way you play, but if you don’t win, it doesn’t really make you feel any better for having a good game."Mikey Anderson
The Kings had 20 high-danger scoring chances at even-strength at 5-on-5 in this game against the Panthers yesterday (per Natural Stat Trick).
Will changes be on the way soon?
This Kings team is reeling in the Pacific Division standings in the West early this regular season. The Kings have lost four games in a row in the West, falling out of the top teams in the division standings this past week in the past few days since Monday night.
There are many reasons why the Kings are struggling in the standings in the West, including untimely turnovers, special teams issues on the power play, and injuries ravaging the team defensively this regular season this fall.
Hockey Royalty's Russell Morgan hinted at changes potentially being on the way for new general manager Ken Holland and the Kings this upcoming weekend in the West for the team.
The Kings are one of just a few teams in the league in the NHL this regular season this fall with at least a dozen blown-lead losses in the third period.