Game 23: Ducks 2, Kings 0

Ten days ago, everything was bright and rosy. The Kings were atop the Western Conference, taking on all-comers with tenacity and a brutal efficiency that finally had the city's attention.

Ten days ago, the Kings were the darlings of the NHL, able to do no wrong with their fearless play and slight swagger that they belonged with the NHL's elite.

Ten days ago is a long time ago.

The Kings now find themselves at the bottom of the Pacific Division, looking up at the Ducks, who smiled and waved as they passed them in the standings.

If the Kings learned anything in the last 10 days, it should be this: once you pop your head up as an elite team, you catch the attention of the other teams. You become the team others circle on their calendar to gear up for, rather than a team others look past. The difference between the elite teams and the rest of the NHL's fodder is how you respond to the spotlight. And it seems this club is not ready for prime time yet.

The Kings' stay at the top of the mountain was admitted brief and glorious, but that was then, this is now. The team has some serious flaws, and it's not all bad breaks and bounces. It seems since the Kings were robbed in the Ottawa game, they have been playing less-than-inspired hockey.

The team should be playing a lot better. Yes, they are missing two pieces of the puzzle with Wiliie MItchell and Alexei Ponikarovsky. But the team has their core intact, their blueline still has three solid defensemen and one of the top young goalies in the league. Losing four in a row is unacceptable and seven out of eight... absolutely not.

There is something the Kings that are doing that is fundamentally wrong. The team assembled here is better than they have played during that last ten days. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would disagree with me.

And the path doesn't get easier. Sure, the team is home for the next 11 days, playing such teams as the Panthers, Red Wings, Flames and Wild. But none of those teams are pushovers. Detroit is continuing its inexplicable hold over the Central, Calgary and Minnesota always play the Kings hard. The only team one could look through is Florida. But the way the Kings are playing now, I wouldn't do that either.

I had hoped for a little momentum heading into The December to Dismember, but that's what's going to make it that much more impressive. Off comes the mustaches and out goes Movember, in comes bloodlust and carnage. Let's hope it's not internal bleeding and self-destruction.

• AP: Hiller’s shutout sends Ducks past slumping Kings

Although it’s way too early for the Ducks to get excited about passing their Southern California rivals in the standings, Anaheim’s leap over Los Angeles on Monday night is an apt illustration of what’s happening at both exits in the Freeway Faceoff.

• LA Times: Kings' best do the worst damage in loss to Ducks

Their best players are the most talented, the ones who can get by on skill and sometimes try to do that without adding diligence or concentration. Cornerstone defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson have been guilty of that lately, making poor decisions and bad reads that have ranged from ill-advised to outright baffling.

• LAKings.com: Kings can't solve Ducks

The Kings have now lost four consecutive games, and seven of their last eight. They're now 11th in the conference and last in the Pacific Division, having been passed by Anaheim and San Jose. Less than 10 days ago, the Kings were in first in the conference.

• OC Register: Ducks' victory a thriller for Hiller

If this wasn't the best game of the season for the inconsistent Ducks (12-11-3) it certainly belongs on the short list. (Ed. note; Sound familiar?)

They said it

“It wasn’t the result we wanted. I think it was probably the best 60 minutes we’ve played through this so-called slump that we’re going through. You look at the goals. They got a power-play goal and a goal off a turnover. We had a lot of chances. They had a good goalie tonight and we’ve got to move on now.” – Dustin Brown, on the game.

“We know, as a team, we haven’t been creating as many chances as we’d like, and we’ve got to get back to the basics. Getting pucks to the net and getting guys to the goal, that is the only way we are going to be able to score goals. We just need to focus on getting our shots on target, first of all, and having a body in front.” – Drew Doughty, on the slump.

“That’s been the story for the last eight games. We decide to play when we want, and obviously that’s not good enough. That’s not cutting it. If we’re going to pull out of this, we’ve got to play 60 minutes, hard. It can’t be 59. It can’t be 59:30. It’s got to be the full 60. That’s the only way we’re going to come out of this tailspin.” – Wayne Simmonds , on picking up play in the third period.

“The only way you get out of anything is with your best players taking charge, and we need them to be our best players. The two players on the back end, Doughty and Jack, we need them to be A-plus every night, and certainly right now" – Terry Murray , on the play of Doughty and Johnson.