In a crucial stretch of the season, the Los Angeles Kings are feeling the pressure to secure their playoff spot with just 13 games left. Unfortunately, their recent performance against the Buffalo Sabres didn't help their cause, as they fell 4-1 at Crypto.com Arena.
The Kings are currently sitting third in the Wild Card standings with a record of 28-25-16 and 72 points. They're just a point behind Nashville and six behind Utah, making every game a must-win.
Mikey Anderson summed up the urgency, saying, “You can win one game and you go up two spots. Lose one, and you’re down three.
It’s going to be a race until game 82. We need to reset, come back tomorrow, and focus on getting two points against Utah.”
Back-to-back losses are a hurdle the Kings need to overcome if they want to make it to the postseason. Anderson emphasized the need for consistent points, “You need points every night.
It’s tough to get nothing when everyone around us is in the same boat. It’s time to take control and push ourselves into the playoffs.”
The game started on a positive note for the Kings, with Artemi Panarin netting a power-play goal in the first period, assisted by Anze Kopitar and Adrian Kempe. This early lead, however, was short-lived.
Buffalo's Tage Thompson leveled the score early in the second period, and despite a scoreless remainder of the period, the game was still within reach for the Kings.
But the third period saw the game slip away. Sam Carrick put Buffalo ahead with a backhand goal, and despite a challenge from the Kings over a potential missed stoppage, the goal stood. This was compounded by a delay of game penalty against Los Angeles.
Rasmus Dahlin quickly capitalized, extending Buffalo's lead. The Kings' attempt to rally with an extra attacker backfired, as Zach Benson sealed the game with an empty-netter.
Interim coach D.J. Smith reflected on the missed opportunities, “We need to play consistently for 50 minutes.
We’ve struggled to close out games. I don’t like giving up a 2-on-1 with under 10 minutes to go.”
Despite the loss, the Kings managed 27 shots on goal, with goalie Anton Forsberg making 29 saves. Los Angeles went 1-for-3 on the power play, while Buffalo was perfect at 1-for-1.
The Kings now face a critical juncture in their season, needing to regroup and refocus if they hope to secure a playoff berth.