The LA Kings were able to come back from an early two-goal deficit, but three unanswered goals in a third-period collapse leads to a 5-3 loss to the Predators.
Goal Breakdown
First period:
NSH: Mikael Granlund (5), ASST: Alexandre Carrier (5), Ryan Johansen (13)
NSH: Matt Duchene (12), ASST: Cody Glass (10), Roman Josi (25)
LAK: Sean Durzi (6), ASST: Anze Kopitar (24)
Second period:
LAK: Adrian Kempe (19), ASST: Anze Kopitar (25), Drew Doughty (25)
LAK Quinton Byfield PPG (2), ASST: Phillip Danault (21), Sean Durzi (20)
That Quinton celly 🔥 #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/XMaOqCi2Tt
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) January 22, 2023
Third period:
NSH: Ryan Johansen PPG (11), ASST: Mikael Granlund (22), Roman Josi (26)
NSH: Matt Duchene (13), ASST: Alexandre Carrier (6), Cody Glass (11)
NSH: Cole Smith (1), ASST: Roman Josi (27), Juuso Parssinen (14)
LA Kings pull Copley 39 seconds in
You probably hadn’t even got your drinks and snacks ready to sit down to enjoy another Saturday hockey game before the LA Kings were down 2-0 to the Nashville Predators. Pheonix Copley was pulled in place of Jonathan Quick just 39 seconds into the game after some questionable goals allowed put the Kings in a quick hole.
For fans of their favorite LA hockey team, goaltending stays among the main problems for this team’s success. While Quick came in and played relatively well, there’s still a need for outside help to solidify the needs in net.
Trade Deadline looms
The NHL trade deadline is March 3. For the LA Kings, however, they don’t have the luxury to wait that long to make upgrades needed for this team. The Kings have lost momentum and now have found themselves once again struggling to put together a complete 60-minute effort. With injuries piling up and the goaltending situation still an issue, Rob Blake will have to work some magic to ignite some energy into this slumbering hockey team.
UP NEXT: The LA Kings are right back at it tonight in Chicago at 4 pm PT.
Featured image credit: (Mark Zaleski / Associated Press)