The Los Angeles Kings will try to find a way to beat the visiting Minnesota Wild on Saturday evening, two days after experiencing their most frustrating loss of the season.
The Kings were leading the visiting Tampa Bay Lightning by a goal with just under 3 1/2 minutes remaining on Thursday before surrendering three goals in a 5-3 loss.
“I can’t tell you how disappointing this is,” Kings coach Jim Hiller said. “It’s hard to explain. The players put in a great effort, so to come up empty, I don’t want to be over-dramatic, but it’s difficult. It’s difficult.”
The loss was the eighth in the past 10 games (2-6-2) for Los Angeles, which now looks up at five other teams in the Pacific Division standings.
“You have to flush this one,” said Kings forward Corey Perry, who had three assists against the Lightning. “It is what it is now. You move on, and you go out there and get ready for the next one. It’s going to be another tough one.”
Los Angeles was the last team in the league to record multiple power-play goals this season before doing so vs. Tampa Bay.
“I think we’re finding our spots and our movement,” Perry said of the power play. “Guys are shooting the puck in the back of the net; that’s the biggest thing.”
Still, getting wins and adding to their point total is all that matters for the Kings heading into the first game of consecutive contests games against Minnesota. The teams will play again in Los Angeles on Monday night.
“We’re looking for the result,” Hiller said. “We talked about it after the Colorado game (a 5-2 loss last Monday). Played a really good game in Colorado. It makes you feel good that you’re playing right there with them; doesn’t make you feel good you didn’t get the win. (Against Tampa Bay), again, another really good team. We should have won the game. We need to win that game, that’s the bottom line. There’s not a lot of moral victories in this one for us.”
The Wild ran their point streak to five games (3-0-2) with a 5-2 win at the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night. In his 10th game since being acquired by Minnesota from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade on Dec. 12, Quinn Hughes tied his career high by setting up four goals and set a team record for assists by a defenseman.
Hughes has 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 10 games since leaving the Canucks.
“You’re a little bit passive to start. You want to fit in,” Hughes said. “You’re getting to know everyone and coming to the fourth- or third-best team in the league. It’s not about you.”
Hughes said expects his comfort level to rise.
“I think that as we get into 20 games, 30 games, it’ll be like I’ve been here a couple years,” Hughes said. “I’m looking forward to that.”
–Field Level Media
