Los Angeles Kings vs. Minnesota Wild: Kings' Struggles Continue

Game 39: Wild 4, Kings 3

Could this be the harbinger of things to come?

The Kings struggled heading into the Christmas holiday, and still look out of sync in the last two games. But Monday's loss to the Wild was more disheartening than Saturday's 3-2 loss to Phoenix .

It was also the first game without Justin Williams, who is out 12 weeks with his broken "lower body extremity."

Taking his place on the top line was Teddy Purcell, who was a healthy scratch against the 'Yotes. When asked by Rich "The News Hound" Hammond whether this is Purcell's last chance, coach Terry Murray was typically non-committal :

"I’m going to have to keep demanding it and let him run with it for a little bit here," Murray said. "Again, I know he has been given a lot of rope already, but he’s been out. I think he clearly understands that he’s got to get some production, and give us production on a pretty consistent basis, to stay where he is tonight. We’ll watch and see, and hopefully it works out."

Purcell actually played admirably; the disappointment came from Anze Kopitar, who hasn't scored a goal since Dec. 12 against the Dallas Stars. Everyone was convinced once Ryan Smyth was back on the ice, Kopitar would find his groove.

But alas, Smyth made his return, and Kopitar only has one assist to show for it. I still believe Kopitar will find his way, hopefully sooner rather than later. But the Kings hopes for the playoffs rest squarely on the Slovenian's shoulders.

The Kings' first goal last night was by Drew Doughty, but it wasn't a goal, in my opinion. Sure, it was reviewed and found to be a goal, tying the game. But what do officials know?

I do know that with Doughty's goal, it moves him into a four-way tie for goals scored by a defenseman. He is one point away from matching last season's output.

The Wild then proceeded to reel off two goals to stifle the Kings the rest of the second period. Alexander Frolov had his stick broken on the Wild power play and decided to leave his position to fetch a new stick. Now, before you start blaming Frolov for leaving the zone, recognize that Jonny Quick had control of the puck, which should have been enough for Frolov to snap up a new stick.

But Quick's blind pass was picked up by a Wild player and quickly turned the play into a two-man advantage. Quick's pass was ill-advised and if I were Frolov, I would've stayed in the zone. But these things happen.

In the third, the resilient Kings battled back and got hard-earned goals by Jack Johnson and Scott Parse to successfully erase deficit. Momentum seemed to have finally swung in the Kings favor.

For 12 seconds.

That's when former King Eric Belanger scored his second goal of the night, dealing the Kings a fatal blow that they succumbed to two minutes later. Hey, wasn't Belanger dealt for Jack Johnson? Yeah, that's what I thought .

A frustrating way to lose, considering the Kings outshot and outhit the Wild. L.A. is mired in their second three-game losing streak of the season. And unless the lines solidify and start producing, that streak might continue.

Their next three games are tough ones, two on the road against Calgary and Minnesota and the Capitals come to Staples Center Saturday.

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