3 takeaways from the LA Kings' shootout loss vs. Nashville

The start of the first three games of the Los Angeles Kings (3-3-3) five-game road trip in the West this week have all afforded head coach Jim Hiller's group one point at least in the standings in the Pacific Division this fall. The Kings have gotten at least one point in overtime or the shootout in four straight contests since this past week against the Carolina Hurricanes at home last Saturday.

Four combined points from Joel Armia and Brandt Clarke can't lift the Los Angeles Kings past the Nashville Predators in a shootout this weekend

Adrian Kempe and the Kings jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first period on the road at Bridgestone Arena against the Nashville Predators (4-3-2). The Kings looked to have the momentum early in the game, getting nine shots on goal and multiple high-danger scoring chances in the game's first 10 minutes in the first period vs. Nashville.

The Predators hung around and never let the Kings get a comfortable lead on the scoreboard in the game's first 30 minutes in the first and second periods.

There weren't a ton of scoring chances the Kings gave up last night in the defensive zone in front of the net in front of Kuemper. But the chances that the Kings did give up were really great opportunities for the Predators to bury late in the game to get past the third period in overtime.

This game felt like one of the longer shootouts I've seen. The Kings had a few chances to win the shootout after the third round, but Juuse Saros stood tall in net for the Preds in the crease.

The 5-4 loss to the Predators snaps the Kings' two-game winning streak. It also continues the streak of four straight games for the Kings where the team earned at least one point in the standings in the West early this regular season.

Here are three takeaways from the Kings' disappointing 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators on the road on Oct. 25.

Joel Armia breaks through with his best offensive game of the season

I thought the Kings played one of their best and most decisive offensive zone efforts last night against Nashville. The Kings outshot Nashville by a margin of 40-25 on the scoreboard. And the Kings had more than double the number of scoring chances and nearly double the number of high-danger scoring chances as Nashville last night in the offensive zone.

Joel Armia was instrumental in helping the Kings build momentum and really start to control the pace of the game on the score sheet yesterday in the second period. Armia scored his first goal in a Kings' uniform yesterday to get LA tied up on the scoreboard vs. Nashville early in the game's second period.

He also assisted on the go-ahead goal in the second period, scored by veteran winger Corey Perry just four minutes after his own goal early in that frame.

"The Armia play to Perry on the 2-on-1 was one of the nicer goals we’ve seen this year. Good energy out of all four lines. We have to regroup and go back and get ready to do it again in short order."

Jim Hiller on Joel Armia

Last night was the first multi-point game and the first game Armia scored a goal for the Kings early this regular season.

Jim Hiller makes some controversial choices in the shootout lineup

Hiller and the Kings have missed out on two key points in the standings in the Pacific Division in shootouts lost against the West in the past couple of weeks on the road.

Had Hiller put Kevin Fiala in the shootout in the sixth round, before Phillip Danault, the Kings could have won the game in the shootout vs. Nashville. Danault missed his attempt against Saros and the Preds. Fiala made a nice move and scored in the seventh round of the shootout for the Kings to push things to an eighth round in the shootout.

Warren Foegele and Phillip Danault never scored a shootout goal.

Fiala has double-digit shootout goals in his career. Hiller and the Kings also have other players who were either good in shootouts in the minors/juniors in the past few years, or have already scored multiple goals in the shootout in the league.

Brandt Clarke needs more ice time

Brandt Clarke was arguably the Kings' best defenseman on both ends of the ice last night in the loss to Nashville in the shootout yesterday.

The loss to the Predators this weekend on Saturday was the first game that Clarke had multiple points on the stat sheet for the Kings' blue line on defense.

"He made a couple of really good plays and we were able to spend time in the o-zone, so that’s where he gets to show his greatest skills. It’s on us to make sure we’re forechecking and we’re winning puck battles, we’re getting the puck up to the top, and then he gets an opportunity to do his thing."

Jim Hiller on Brandt Clarke

Despite Hiller praising Clarke's play and offensive instincts with the puck on his stick yesterday after the shootout loss to Nashville on the road, the Kings' staff only played him just over 17 minutes on the ice between regulation and overtime yesterday. Clarke leads the team's defensemen in expected goals against the Western Conference early this regular season, but he ranks second-to-last in share of possible ice time (per Money Puck).

I thought last night was Clarke's most complete game for the Kings' blue line on defense early this regular season. He registered multiple assists, including a nice pass for a primary assist on what ended up being the game-tying goal for the Kings' in clutch time in the third period in regulation.