New interim head coach DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-16) couldn't parlay the momentum from a seven out of a possible 10 points on the road trip this past week in the East in a win against the Philadelphia Flyers late this week on Thursday night (March 19) on home ice yesterday.
Second-period struggles cost the Los Angeles Kings positioning for this upcoming postseason this spring vs. Philadelphia
Smith and the Kings and the coaching staff had an opportunity to pick up valuable points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division yesterday, while division rivals like the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks lost on the scoreboard on March 19.
A dismal second period in the middle frame ultimately doomed the Kings to only get one point in the standings in the West this regular season yesterday vs. the Flyers on home ice. The Kings led the game on the scoreboard for most of the opening frame in the first period. Forward Quinton Byfield opened the scoring early in the game yesterday in the opening frame in the first period on a goal assisted by forwards Alex Laferriere and Trevor Moore.
The Flyers scored three of the game's four goals in the middle frame in the second period yesterday on the scoreboard, jumping out to the game's first lead on the ice for Philadelphia at Crypto.com Arena. The Kings pushed back in the final frame in the third period and late in the middle frame, getting goals on the scoreboard from center captain Anze Kopitar and forward Artemi Panarin.
The Kings pushed the game on the scoreboard to a shootout and overtime in the extra frame yesterday on the ice. But the Flyers bested the Kings in the shootout, thanks to Trevor Zegras and Mitchkov.
Here are three takeaways from the Kings' ugly second-period loss in the shootout, by a score of 4-3, on home ice vs. the Flyers at Crypto.com Arena on Thursday night (March 19).
Artemi Panarin continues to shine offensively on the stat sheet for the Kings this regular season
The Kings got the power play going on special teams on the 5-on-4 man advantage late in the game in the final frame in the third period yesterday. Panarin scored the game's first goal on the power play on the special teams top unit for the Kings and Smith yesterday on the scoreboard in the final frame against the Flyers vs. Philadelphia.
Panarin also registered an assist on the game's first goal by Kopitar on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period yesterday on the ice. He finished up the game with multiple points, including one goal and one assist on the stat sheet for the Kings yesterday.
"Special player. It’s cool being out there with him on the power play. I just wanted to take the goalie’s eyes away and give him a chance. He’s been doing it for a long time. He’s a hell of a player."Trevor Moore on Artemi Panarin
The goal from Panarin on speical teams on the power play on the 5-on-4 man advantage was very clutch in the final frame in the third period yesterday, and it at least helped the Kings pick up one point in the standings in the West this regular season.
Second period collapse costs the Kings points in the standings this regular season in the West vs. the Flyers yesterday
In the middle frame in the second period yesterday, the Kings fell behind on the scoreboard by multiple goals defensively. The Flyers went on a run of scoring two straight goals offensively in the zone yesterday to take the lead on the scoreboard and get the momentum on the ice vs. the Kings in the middle frame.
The Kings and Smith and the coaching staff need more playmaking in the zone offensively and on both ends of the ice on home ice this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division to come up with valuable points in the standings this past few months for this upcoming spring in the postseason.
Western Conference teams with the most OT/shootout losses in a regular season.
— Rink Royalty (@RinkRoyalty) March 20, 2026
1. Calgary Flames (22-23): 17
T-2. Flames (16-17): 16
T-2. LA Kings (25-26): 16
T-2. Sharks (22-23): 16
T-3. 6 teams: 15 pic.twitter.com/6koMHbxUWq
"That’s why those guys are who they are. I mean, you think of some of the goals that we’ve given up here this season, late in games, who gets them? The best players in the league are the best players in the league for a reason and they find ways to make plays under pressure when no one else can, especially in the third period. Having a guy like Bread gives us that option."DJ Smith
The Kings had the opportunity yesterday in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division to get better positionioning for this upcoming postseason in the playoffs this spring in this upcoming month in April in the league.