Game 37: Flyers 7, Kings 4

After their defensive hiccup in Phoenix, the Kings headed home to try and finish off 2010 in style. Turns out, the hiccups remained Thursday.

Los Angeles slogged through their second straight stinker, this time at the hands of the Flyers. The game started with such promise, only to devolve into crappy penalties and lack of focus.

After trading goals in the first period, the Kings still seemed in control. But two quick goals past Jonathan Bernier early in the second caused things to get a tad chippy. Bernier, apparently miffed at something Mike Richards did, took issue with the Flyers' center. The two jawed at each other until they were separated.

All that did was provoke the Flyers, as they scored a power play goal five minutes later. Richards came over to rub it in Bernier's face, and was whistled for unsportsmanlike conduct. But the Kings couldn't capitalize on the man advantage, and Bernier was yanked after he allowed six goals in the game.

For the second straight game, a Kings goaltender was pulled after allowing six goals. Nine different Flyers had points Thursday night, which is an unsettling trend. By allowing two power play goals, the Kings dropped from 5th best penalty kill to the 10th. Over the last 120 minutes, the Kings have allowed 13 goals, the same amount they had given up in the previous seven games.

The few high points? Ryan Smyth scored twice, and Drew Doughty and Jarett Stoll each had two assists. Jack Johnson's power play goal gave him 18 power play points (3 G, 15 A).

Didju know? The longest hiccup fit on record is a man named Charles Osbourne. According to reports, he had a fit that lasted 69 years. Here's to hoping the Kings defensive hiccups go away a lot sooner than that.

• AP: Flyers rout Kings 7-4 on Richards’ 4-point night

Whether Richards was talking trash to Kings goalie Jonathan Bernier or beating him for a pair of goals, the Flyers’ captain led them to their second highest-scoring game of the season.

• LA Times: Kings' defense is absent again in loss to Flyers

That's especially true for the streaky Kings. The only other times they have lost two in a row this season, the losses were bunched together during an ugly two-week-long nosedive.

• LAKings.com: Kings lose to Flyers 7-4

After a four-game winning streak, the Kings have now lost back-to-back games with some strikingly poor play in their own end and a breakdown in discipline against the Flyers. For a second straight night, the Kings' starting goalie didn't make it to the third period.

• Philadelphia Inquirer: Flyers bail out Leighton in L.A.  

For the first time in 209 days, since Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, he is back in the win column. It may not have been pretty, but Leighton settled down after two goals against in the first 11 minutes as the Flyers rallied for a 7-4 win over the Kings at Staples Center.

They said it

“It’s lapses, but over the last 120 minutes we’re just not playing well. That’s something that needs to change right away. If we want to win games, we can’t give up six and seven (goals) on back-to-back nights and expect to win any games.” – Matt Greene, on the defensive struggles.

“We’re certainly not tightening up like we should be, and like we have all season. Tonight, I thought we were playing fine in the first period. The only two chances I think they got, the whole period, they buried them. That’s the way it goes sometimes. You try to shake it off, but certainly we’re going to need some work in that department.” – Rob Scuderi, on the defensive mistakes.

"We’ve got practice time. We’re a young hockey club. When you’re on the road and you’re traveling, with late nights, it’s not an excuse, it’s just part of the schedule. That’s the way it is in the NHL. You’re not going to get the quality work in, to keep the habits in place. Now we’re back. We have about two weeks of being around here and playing some games, but what’s important is getting on the ice and practicing and reviewing and going through the fundamentals of the game.” – Terry Murray, on how to get things turned around.