Game 74: Stars 4, Kings 1

On the same night the Phoenix Coyotes clinched their first playoff spot in eight years, the Kings' continue to flounder, playing uninspired hockey and dropping their third game in a row.

Not only that, but it points out just how streaky the Kings have been. This is the fourth time this season the Kings have registered a three-game slide. [Ed. note: It's also has happened in October (3 games), December (4 games) and January (3 games).] The good news is the team usually responds with a winning streak of equal or more wins. So there's that.

But I'm more concerned with the comments the Captain made. Dustin Brown was asked about the need for urgency late in the season. His answer, basically, was: "Yeah, we need some of that here." But who he included is what struck me as interesting. He included the "coaches, players, (and) trainers," which makes me wonder if he's unhappy with the coaching staff.

Granted the players are the ones who are directly responsible for the effort on the ice. But maybe they aren't being pushed hard enough? I find that hard to believe he's talking about the head coach, knowing that coach Murray is no slouch. He's proven to have gotten the most out of this group of players.

Coach Murray stated that the team started off good, and that "everything was fine." The problem is everything is obviously not fine, since the penalty kill is atrocious, and has been for the past week. They allowed the Stars to score four power plays goals. One deflects off of Scuderi, so there's nothing you can do about that.

I also don't want to short-change the Stars, they played like a team in the stretch drive should. Kari Lehtonen made some impressive saves, including stonewalling Jack Johnson on an absolutely gimme goal.

But the thing that kills me is the Coyotes clinching a spot in the playoffs with a few weeks to get fans excited about it. That should be where the Kings are: celebrating their arrival as contenders this season. Instead, the team is slowly backing their way into the playoffs. And Dustin Brown said it best:

"Obviously our goal is to make the playoffs," said Brown. "But if we play like this, we’re going to be four and out. We need to take a look in the mirror as a team."

Hey Dustin, hopefully the team doesn't look as bad as that gash over your eye. Ouch.

• AP: Stars beat Kings 4-1 with 4 power-play goals

The Kings, vying for their first postseason berth since 2002, lost their third straight and are 5-6-2 since the Olympic break. Los Angeles is eighth in the Western Conference with a seven-point lead over Calgary and eight games remaining.

• LA Times: Kings fall to the Stars for third consecutive loss

The Kings are inching closer to reaching the postseason for the first time since 2002.  But looking as if they'll make the playoffs and looking like a playoff team are not the same thing, and there were plenty of problems in their 4-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday at Staples Center.

• LA Kings: Not So Special Teams

Despite their loss, the Kings had their playoff "magic number’’ reduced to eight when Calgary, in ninth place in the Western Conference, lost to Boston. Still, the Kings aren’t exactly surging toward the playoffs. With Saturday’s loss, they fell behind Detroit, into seventh place, one point ahead of eighth-place Colorado.

• LA Kings: Kings Go Back to Black for Playoffs

The Los Angeles Kings will go “Back in Black” for the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs as the team will wear their popular Alternate Jerseys for all post-season games at STAPLES Center, the club announced today.  The Kings are also encouraging fans to go “Back in Black” for the remaining five games at STAPLES Center as the 2009-10 regular season comes to a conclusion.

They said it

“We didn’t have any enthusiasm, any energy. It’s disappointing, coming off a day off and the situation we’re in. Quite frankly, it’s just a lot of (b.s.). I think we need to take a look in the mirror, as individuals and as a team. We can’t be expecting to play like this in a couple weeks.,...” – Dustin Brown, on the game.

“We’re not happy about tonight, but I think the best thing for us is that we get right on the road tomorrow and we play two games right in a row. I think the best thing for us will be playing hockey immediately.” – Rob Scuderi, on not “backing in” to the playoffs.

“You guys are way off here. You’re way off. You’re asking the wrong questions. The first period, we come out, we’re fine. We’re leading 1-0, we’re outshooting them 12-7, everything is fine. The start of the game, the right attitude, the right effort, the right intensity, everything is good. It’s the penalty killing. Let’s not over-evaluate here. Our special teams were no good here tonight. Penalty killing was no good. The power play was no good. We don’t score on the opportunities. That’s it. Don’t over-evaluate, don’t over-analyze here, because you’re going to go the wrong way. The first period, the start of the game, is fine. We’re in good shape. We’re leading the game. Everything is under control. Five-on-three power play, 4-on-3 power play, puck goes off our defenseman’s skate, everything is OK.” – Terry Murray, on the apparent lack of desperation

Across the Kingdom

• The Royal Half: Move along, Nothing to see here

Sure, the Kings have 3 "games in hand" but if you don't win those games... they don't help you. 8 games left and a Captain and a Coach who are both trying to lead this team into the playoffs. The Kings better get it together over the next few games... otherwise there is a good chance they will end up as the 8th seed in the playoffs.

• LA Kings News: A Test of Adversity is a Test of Character

Wayne Simmonds must be playing hurt. I cannot believe that he has lost a step and the physical element has left his game for no reason whatsoever. I am most concerned about Wayne because he is next to Doughty the most important player on this team. It’s a compliment, a big one and not having him at full capacity leaves the team with a limp.

• HockeyBuzz's Matthew Barry: Choke-A-Thon In Full Swing!

I'm sorry to those who don't like the term "Choke-A-Thon," especially when you consider the Kings are most likely to back into the playoffs anyway. Its the annoyance that the March Meltdown leading up to the playoffs doesn't bode well for a team that hasn't BEEN in the playoffs since Dakota Fanning was cute. What's the point of MAKING the playoffs if you're just gonna go Atlanta Thrashers. "If we play like this in the playoffs, we're gonna be four and out" Dustin Brown said following the game. The Kings need a serious Starbucks Double espresso Vanilla soy latte wake up call!

• The LA Kings Outsider: Kings are tired

The Kings are tired.  Some would say the Kings are catching some bad breaks with officials.  That might be true but the Kings have been back on their heels for a while.  Time to step up their game.  Soon.

• Rink Royalty: Kings Goaltending – Boom or Bust?

The question is, will he break down? Is he performing at this level because he’s the second coming of Martin Brodeur (don’t count on it), or Evgeni Nabakov (without the playoff curse please)? Hard to say, but one this is sure, if he can reliably hold up under this quantity and pressure of games during the end of this season, we may be on our way to locking down our goaltending situation for years to come. There’s no question that regardless of how well Quick performs, Bernier is nipping at his heels, and the future looks bright in net for Los Angeles.

• ProSportsBlogging: Kings Jersey Decision About Dollars or Sense?

I said before the beginning of this season that I thought the Kings would eventually make their 3rd jerseys their primary sweater and either retire the current home jersey or relegate it to the alternate.  Is this the first step toward that happening?  A return to the playoffs (knock on wood) marked with a sweater-rebirth?

From across the aisle, the Dallas viewpoint

• Dallas News: Stars' power surge too much for Kings, 4-1

 By skating hard, winning puck battles, earning power-play opportunities and getting the puck to the net, the Stars scored a season-high four power-play goals and took a 4-1 victory over the playoff-bound Los Angeles Kings at Staples Center.

• Defending Big D: No Sweep For You L.A: Stars Win 4-1

Either that or the better saying for tonight is that the sixth time is the charm, but no matter how you look at it, the Dallas Stars came out and played a pretty good game on the road and abused the Kings penalty kill to the tune of four power play goals in a 4-1 win over the Los Angeles Kings.

• Defending Big D: Stargazing: Stars Avoid Clean Sweep, Beat Kings 4-1

Too little too late, of course, but finally a win against the L.A. Kings  to avoid the clean six game sweep. Instead we can now say that they "collected points in four of six" against L.A., even though they lost five games to them. It's the kind of ridiculously stupid thing only NHL fans can say.

• Five for Fighting: Observations on a 4-1 win

``We had a little more energy tonight than LA,'' Crawford said after giving his players Friday off to get some jump in their legs. ``We won a lot of races to the puck, all the 50/50 pucks. We did a great job of killing penalties. Everyone looked like they had a good jump. We were fortunate to get a few bounces, but when you work hard that pays off for you and the pucks end up in the back of the net. We were the first to the puck every time. It made a huge difference. These are tough games for everybody. We needed to gut it out and I was very happy with our performance tonight."

Peeping the dailies