THE Los Angeles Kings (18-15-10) continued their three-game trip to Manitoba in a Western Conference clash against the Winnipeg Jets (16-22-5). No matchup is easy in the National Hockey League, but the Kings had a chance to bounce back with a win against the Jets who entered Friday night having lost their last 11 games, placing them 32nd in the league. After falling behind early, the Kings never had enough juice to make a game of it.
The dog days of the season seem to be hitting the Kings hard this year as they have now lost 10 of their last 14 games.
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Kings fall behind early
It didn’t take long for this game to turn ugly as the Jets came out flying while it looked like the Kings were still taking their pre-game nap. Before the broadcast could even finish showing the starting lineups, Jets forward Vladislav Namestnikov scored his 7th goal of the season by redirecting a Logan Stanley shot from the point past Darcy Kuemper.
After falling behind just a minute and a half into the game, the Kings weathered the storm, but that was it. The time of the battle for possession was pretty even, but it was clearly the Jets’ game to lose.
To add insult to injury, Cole Koepke doubled Winnipeg’s lead with less than two minutes remaining in the first period. Kopeke scored his third of the year in front of Kuemper thanks to a nice pass from Dylan Samberg.
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Another first period mistake
Just like in the first period, the Kings were found wanting and it cost them dearly. A little more than two minutes into the second period, the Jets increased their early lead to 3-0. After a 26-game goalless drought, Jets forward Jonathan Toews found the back of the net for his fourth of the season after finding the loose puck in the slot where he was then able to poke it into the Los Angeles net.
Byfield joins board of directors
After a very lifeless first half of the game, the Kings found themselves somewhat alive by cutting Winnipeg’s lead to 3-1. Quinton Byfield deflected Warren Foegele’s shot from the point for his seventh goal of the season, Taylor Award collecting the other assist for this second career point in the NHL.
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Byfield now has four points in his last four games after having just four points 19 games before this streak.
The mid-season truth about the Los Angeles Kings
Scheifele ices the game with a pair
Byfield’s goal to make it 3-1 seemingly gave the Kings an outside chance to come back in this one. That was until Mark Scheifele, a notable Team Canada snob, scored his 21st and 22nd goals of the season to officially turn this game into a blowout.
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Darcy Kuemper was pulled and Anton Forsberg got the net for the third period. Forsberg didn’t see much action, but he stopped all three shots he faced.
The Kings played a little better in the third period as they generated a few quality chances, but to no avail.
WInnipeg’s terrible streak was bound to end eventually, it’s just a shame the Kings made it so easy for them.
The Los Angeles Kings are back in action on Saturday as they finish their three-game road trip in a battle against Connor McDavid and the fearsome Edmonton Oilers.
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