LOS ANGELES — “Terrible, and that might be polite.”
That’s how head coach Jim Hiller described the LA Kings’ first-period performance in the team’s 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, whom LA will face again on Saturday.
Not only did the Kings go 0-for-5 on the power play, but they only scored once, after two periods of nonstop giveaways and poor playmaking. The Kings now have the fifth-worst offense in the NHL, scoring only 2.62 goals per game, with lines that appear disjointed and a defensive group struggling to connect with the forwards.
Connor Bedard and Wyatt Kaiser each scored for Chicago in the second frame. Trevor Moore responded for LA during the following period after finishing a strong play by Warren Foegele, but LA couldn’t tie the game, even with a 6-on-4 to end the game with Darcy Kuemper pulled and Bedard in the penalty box.
Talk of Troy reporter Kasey Kazliner attended the game and analyzed the Kings’ loss on Skate of Thrones, TOT’s Kings podcast.