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As the see-saw journey that is the Los Angeles Kings’ stretch run continues, the good news is this: The Kings maintain a firm hold on a playoff spot.

Entering Thursday’s visit to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Kings (36-21-9, 81 points) have a six-point lead for the No. 3 slot in the Pacific Division and are three back of Edmonton for second place. All of that despite enduring consecutive losing and winning streaks of five games in the past three weeks.

Los Angeles was unable to extend its surge to six games on Monday, losing 3-1 to the host Minnesota Wild.

Adrian Kempe scored first, but the Kings couldn’t extend their lead despite outshooting Minnesota 29-22. The Kings surrendered the winning goal with 4:38 to play and allowed an empty-netter in the closing minute.

“I think overall we played a pretty good game,” Kempe said. “I think they did as well. I think it was pretty even throughout the game. Not a ton of chances going back and forth. Both teams played solid defensively. At the end of the day, penalties and (penalty killing) came up short today. It’s been good all year. Tough when you lose in the last minute.”

The Kings will look to revive their defensive discipline against the Blackhawks. They allowed one goal in their previous three games before Monday.

Quinton Byfield was held scoreless in Minnesota, ending a six-game goal streak. Byfield has earned points in eight of the past 12 games.

Chicago (20-39-9, 49 points) can secure a three-game sweep of the season series against Los Angeles with a victory.

To do so, the Blackhawks must improve their defensive intensity and execution. They’ve lost five straight games for the fourth time this season, a skid that includes allowing at least six goals in consecutive contests for the first time since March 2021.

Goaltender Spencer Knight yielded six unanswered goals during Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken two nights after the Blackhawks fell at Vancouver by the same score. Arvid Soderblom was the goalie in that game.

Chicago forward Jason Dickinson said the team “didn’t protect the slot at all” against Seattle.

“There were just too many high-danger scoring chances,” he added. “You can’t give up that many and expect a goalie to make every save.”

In interim coach Anders Sorensen’s view, one catalyst for the recent defensive lapse is being “less assertive” about regaining possession of the puck after the team gives it up.

“Turnovers happen,” Sorensen said. “We don’t want them to be as magnified as they were (Tuesday), but then, ‘How’s your response to those turnovers?'”

Acquired this month in a trade with the Florida Panthers, Knight stopped 41 shots in his club debut to key a 5-1 home victory against the Kings on March 3.

Petr Mrazek — since made expendable following the Knight deal — was in net Nov. 2 when Chicago edged host L.A. 4-3 in a shootout.

Tyler Bertuzzi snapped a 20-game goalless drought Tuesday to extend the Blackhawks’ lead to 2-0. Dickinson is aiming to end an even longer cold spell, seeking his first goal since Dec. 23.

–Field Level Media