The Los Angeles Kings saw their 15 home game point streak come to an end in a 3-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. It was closely contested with no goals in the first period before Alex Laferriere broke the tie in the second.
However, the third period was a struggle for the Kings as the Maple Leafs would score three goals to steal a win. After the game, Jim Hiller clearly had some opinions about the game but was not willing to say what those were.
"If I was writing the story tonight, I know the angle I would take," Hiller said to open his postgame media press conference.
When seeing how the third period played out, it is clear that the LA Kings and Jim Hiller were not happy with the officiating in this game. It started midway through the period as Auston Matthews would score a short-handed goal.
However, the Kings would challenge the goal due to what appeared to be a missed call on Matthews for a high-stick.
Did Auston Matthews play the puck with a high stick before his game tying goal?? Sure looks like it. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Pl33rnb8t7
— Locked On LA Kings (@LockedOnLAKings) March 30, 2025
During the television broadcast, there was an even clearer angle that showed Matthews' stick well above his shoulders. However, Hiller said after the game that Toronto (where the play is reviewed) didn't have the same angle the Kings had.
The struggle with penalties only got worse as the Kings went from a 4-on-4 due to the unsuccessful challenge to a 4-on-3 due to a tripping call on Drew Doughty. However, it looked like Mitch Marner slipped and Doughty's stick didn't end up causing the tripping.
Later in the period, Darcy Kuemper would be called for tripping that seemed to be questionable at best that gave the Maple Leafs another 4-on-3 opportunity. They would capitalize on that opportunity and take a 2-1 lead before an empty net goal late in the period to push their lead to 3-1.
LA Kings can't blame the loss to the Maple Leafs entirely on the refs
While the refs clearly had an impact on the game, especially late, the Los Angeles Kings had their own chances and failed to capitalized. They would finish the game with three power play opportunities and while the power play unit looked much better than they did against the Avalanche, they still failed to score a goal in those chances.
There is no question that after 14 goals last weekend in two games, the Kings have been struggling to score again as they have had only four goals over the past three games. This is something that they need to get back on track and could do so tonight against the Sharks, who are allowing the most goals per game in the NHL at 3.69.