In the fluctuating journey to the NHL playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings are keeping their grip on a coveted spot despite recent setbacks. The Kings fell short of a six-game winning streak, suffering a 3-1 defeat to the Minnesota Wild on Monday.
Reflecting on the match, Kings’ player Kempe acknowledged the evenly matched game, attributing the loss to penalties and penalty killing. He stated, “Both teams played solid defensively. At the end of the day, penalties and (penalty killing) came up short today.” Kempe admitted it was a bitter pill to swallow, losing in the final minutes.
The Kings are now setting their sights on the Blackhawks, seeking to tighten up their defense, which had allowed only one goal in the three games leading up to Monday’s defeat. Amidst this, Quinton Byfield’s scoring streak came to a halt in Minnesota, having previously scored in six consecutive games. Despite this, Byfield has managed to secure points in eight of the last twelve games.
On the other side of the ice, the Blackhawks are dealing with their struggles. Goalkeeper Spencer Knight allowed six consecutive goals in Tuesday’s 6-2 loss to the Seattle Kraken, a disappointing performance following another 6-2 fall to Vancouver. Arvid Soderblom was the goaltender for that particular game.
Jason Dickinson, a forward for Chicago, admitted the team’s defensive shortcomings against Seattle, stating that the team “didn’t protect the slot at all,” leading to a surplus of high-danger scoring opportunities for their opponents.
Interim coach Anders Sorensen pointed to the team’s lack of assertiveness in regaining puck possession as a reason for their recent defensive lapses. He urged the players to respond effectively to turnovers, acknowledging that while turnovers are a part of the game, their impact needs to be minimized.
Looking back, Petr Mrazek was in goal when the Blackhawks narrowly defeated the Kings 4-3 in a shootout back in November. This victory was achieved before Mrazek was deemed surplus to requirements following the Knight deal.
Tyler Bertuzzi broke a 20-game goalless streak on Tuesday, pushing the Blackhawks lead to 2-0. Dickinson, however, is still in the midst of a cold spell, seeking his first goal since Dec. 23.
As the Kings and Blackhawks prepare to face-off, both teams will be looking to bolster their defenses, reinvigorate their scoring, and keep their playoff hopes alive. The match promises to be a testament to resilience, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of victory in the competitive world of professional ice hockey.