Game 17: Blue Jackets 6, Kings 3

O.K., so the Kings lost last game. Losses are inevitable. There were still things to hang your hat on.

Like the fact the Kings were riding an 8-0 start at Staples, Jonny Quick had the best start by a Kings goaltender, and the Kings hadn't allowed a power play goal at home.

Well, one out of three isn't bad. The Kings were able to maintain their dominance on the penalty kill. But that was about the only thing that went right Wednesday night.

The Kings let the Blue Jackets score first, which never bodes well, but they battled back and actually held the lead in the third period.

But "defensive lapses" reared their ugly heads, allowing the Blue Jackets to score three unanswered goals, including an empty netter, to end the Kings' win streak at home.

I think it needs to be mentioned, but who thought Willie Mitchell was the glue that held the defense together? When Drew Doughty went down to injury earlier in the season, everyone expected the worst. But now it seems the defense, which had been this team's calling card this season, has looked in disarray the past two games. Both Doughty and Jack Johnson played a lot of minutes and Matt Greene was credited with three blocks. But the rest of the team didn't chip in playing defensively.

Only two forwards (Michal Handzus and Justin Williams) were credited with blocked shots, as the team only blocked 10. Compare it to last game against the Sharks, when the team had a season high 20 blocked shots. No one likes the play defense, but it's necessary against a team like Columbus, who are off to a tremendous start this season as well.

There were some highlights: Doughty had three assists, and now has six points in his last three games. Williams extended his points streak when he scored in the third period. Jarret Stoll was solid in the faceoff circle, winning 81 percent of the drops. Stoll was also credited with five hits.

You look at the numbers and the Kings should be rocking teams like Columbus. But when the whole team isn't on the same page, you can't rely on some of the players to carry the load by themselves. When vets like Handzus and Williams are laying out, and taking a puck to the ribs, you have to take that as inspiration to play harder and smarter.

The Kings are now on a four-game road trip back east against Northeast Division clubs, with their first game Friday against Buffalo. At 10-0-0 this against rthe entire Eastern Conference teams this season, the Kings have another streak they will try to extend. I'm sure many hockey pundits will be watching the upstart Kings to see if their 28-8 record against Eastern Conference teams last season was a fluke.

• AP: Columbus’ Nash ends LA Kings’ perfect home start

Columbus punctuated the best start in franchise history with this gritty win over the Kings, who were the NHL’s only remaining unbeaten home team.

• LA Times: Kings no longer perfect at home

The Kings kept their spotless penalty-killing record on home ice intact, killing off a series of power plays, including an early five-on-three opportunity by the Blue Jackets, who have the lowest-rated power play in the NHL.

• LAKings.com: Kings lose to Blue Jackets 5-3

The Kings got a goal and an assist from Williams, who extended his point streak to 11 games, and got three assists from Drew Doughty, but the Kings lost for the first time in nine home games and suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season.

They said it

"It’s nothing to do with our scheme, nothing to do with our system. I think it’s just, me myself — I can’t speak for the other guys out there — but for me, and watching the other guys, it’s not lack of commitment or effort. It’s the mental side of the game that I think has slipped, the last two nights." – Matt Greene, on the defensive breakdowns.

"We had our chances offensively, and I guess the one thing that was out of the ordinary for us was that we had a lead in the third period and we let it go. That hasn’t happened in a long time here. We kind of let this one slip away.” – Dustin Brown, on the game.

"As I said, a couple of those goals looked pretty easy for them, and that’s really out of character when we have a one-goal lead in the third period. I thought that’s something that we’ve been able to shut down, and do the right thing the rest of the game to maintain that lead and win the game.” – Terry Murray, on being down after losing the game.