Takeaways from LA Kings crucial OT loss to Vancouver

Despite getting the 90th point in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season down the stretch, the Los Angeles Kings (35-26-20) were unable to come up with two points north of the border yesterday vs. the Vancouver Canucks (25-48-8) on the road at Rogers Arena.

Quinton Byfield and the Los Angeles Kings can't get the win in overtime on Tuesday night in Vancouver vs. the Canucks

Those were two critical points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division down the stretch this regular season for the postseason in the playoffs this spring that the Kings and interim head coach DJ Smith missed out on vs. the Canucks yesterday on the road. The Kings were fighting on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday in the final frame in the third period in clutch time, but untimely mistakes in the zone defensively cost the team late in the game on the road vs. Vancouver.

I don't know if Smith and the Kings' coaching staff were too lackluster after clinching a spot in the postseason in the playoffs this spring early this week on Tuesday. But the Kings didn't give enough run support defensively in the zone to Darcy Kuemper in net in the goal yesterday.

Quinton Byfield and Alex Laferriere each had multi-point nights on the scoreboard for the Kings offensively in the zone yesterday in the Pacific Division vs. Vancouver. Byfield has scored multiple goals and over four points in this past couple of games in back-to-backs early this week on Monday and Tuesday for the Kings.

Here are the takeaways from the Kings' critical overtime loss in the extra frame yesterday (April 14) on the road in the Pacific Division in Vancouver vs. the Canucks, by the score of 4-3 on the scoreboard.

Kings showing fight in the final frame in the Pacific Division

A strong start at times in the opening frame in the first period and in the middle frame on the ice yesterday offensively in the zone for Byfield and the Kings was put to rest in the final frame in the third period and in the extra frame in overtime. The Canucks took advantage of bad and untimely bounces defensively for the Kings yesterday in the Pacific Division.

"If you asked me a month ago, in your last 15 games, you’re going to lose one in regulation or whatever it is, you’d take it. At the end of the day, we’re going to go do our best and whoever we play, we’re going to play and we’ve got to be ready."

DJ Smith

Yesterday was a huge missed opportunity in the standings in the West this regular season down the stretch this spring for the postseason this upcoming playoffs this upcoming weekend in the division. The Kings had a chance to get closer to home ice advantage and playing a home game at Crypto.com Arena this upcoming weekend in the first round in the postseason in the playoffs this spring.

Overtime woes for Darcy Kuemper this regular season

I understood why Smith and the Kings' coaching staff yesterday gave Kuemper the start for the Kings defensively in the Pacific Division on the road vs. Vancouver. In the back end of back-to-back games in the final week down the stretch in the West in the Pacific Division this regular season this spring in the postseason in the playoffs, it makes sense in this game to give Kuemper the start for the team.

But Kuemper allowed four goals on just 25 shots on goal defensively in the Pacific Division yesterday on the road vs. the Canucks in Vancouver. I would be remiss if I didn't give any respect to the Canucks for the goal that the Canucks scored in the extra frame in overtime, where Vancouver took advantage of a fortunate bounce against Drew Doughty in the zone defensively for the game-winning goal on the scoreboard.

Kuemper made some big saves in the final frame in the third period in clutch time when it mattered most defensively in the zone yesterday. But Kuemper still couldn't get the win in clutch time in the extra frame in overtime for the Kings this regular season down the stretch vs. the Canucks last night.

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