In a crucial Pacific Division showdown, the Kings found themselves outpaced by the Oilers, suffering an 8-1 defeat on Thursday night.
Coming off the Olympic break, the Kings were eager to close the gap in the standings. With the Oilers clinging to third place in the division and the Kings vying for a wildcard spot, this matchup was a golden opportunity to make a significant move in the standings.
“These two games were really important with division teams,” reflected Kings defenseman Mikey Anderson. “But again, you get on a stretch, everyone can catch fire. I know we have a group in here that can do it.”
The Oilers took control early, securing a 2-1 lead in the first period before blowing the game wide open in the second with three unanswered goals. It was a display of offensive firepower that left the Kings scrambling.
In the third period, Kings forward Jeff Malott tried to inject some energy into his team with a bit of chippiness, but the Oilers responded with a power-play goal from Leon Draisaitl, effectively quashing any hopes of a comeback.
As the Oilers extended their lead to 7-1 and then 8-1, frustrated fans at Crypto.com Arena voiced their displeasure with chants of “Fire Hiller.”
Head coach Jim Hiller, when asked about his job security, remained focused on the task at hand. “My focus is trying to win on Saturday,” Hiller stated.
“We sign up for this job. I think you’re probably always concerned when you get a job in the coaching world, so that’s just something that’s always tucked away.
But what overrides all that is trying to get your team to win games.”
With the recent acquisition of Artemi Panarin and a brief pause for the Olympic break, the Kings now face a narrowing path to the playoffs as the season winds down.
"Twenty-four games seem like a lot, but we gotta get on track here real, real quick," noted veteran Anze Kopitar. "It's obviously getting to a point where teams on the outside looking in, the chances are slimming down if you're not on the inside."
The Kings have their work cut out for them, and the clock is ticking. It's time to see if they can reignite their season and make a push for the playoffs.