Having extended their losing streak to eight on Saturday in their 5-3 loss against the Detroit Red Wings, the Los Angeles Kings are still winless in 2024.
They're currently the only team without a win this year in the league and things don't get easier Monday, as they head to Carolina to take on the Hurricanes.
The Canes are, once again, a legit Cup contender, sitting second in the Metropolitan division.
While the Kings have lost eight straight, the Canes have just one loss in their last eight as they continue to roll.
It goes without saying that the Kings need to be better, but it's an even more important message on Monday.
If they play as they did on Saturday, the Canes will step on their throats and put up some big numbers against the Kings.
A strong third period showing should give the Kings a bit of confidence heading into Monday, but the ability to show that level of play consistently has been missing on the eight game skid.
One big thing the Kings need is production from the bottom six. They've had zero even-strength goals from that group on the last eight games and need more from them.
A lot of fingers have been pointed at Pierre-Luc Dubois for the lack of production from the bottom six, and rightly so, but there are five other players not pulling their weight.
This team is supposedly built on depth, but we haven't seen that depth in a while.
Todd McLellan has made a few changes to try and knock the team out of this funk. Most recently, he scratched Arthur Kaliyev and Jordan Spence in favor of Jaret Anderson-Dolan and Brandt Clarke.
According to LAKingsInsider Zach Dooley's practice report from Sunday, Anderson-Dolan skated with the third line again, while the defense pairings were unclear.
I'm expecting Spence back in, as Clarke hasn't played in back-to-back games this season, but that will be a game time decision.
Who starts in net will also be a game time decision with on morning skate tomorrow.
I wouldn't be surprised to see McLellan stick with David Rittich, who came in on Saturday to relieve Cam Talbot after two periods.
With the Kings facing a back-to-back situation Monday and Tuesday, both will see action in the next 48 hours.
Los Angeles Kings Projected Lines:
Forwards:
Quinton Byfield - Anze Kopitar - Adrian Kempe
Kevin Fiala - Phil Danault - Trevor Moore
Alex Laferriere - Pierre-Luc Dubois - Jaret Anderson-Dolan
Carl Grundstrom - Blake Lizotte - Trevor Lewis
Defense:
Mikey Anderson - Drew Doughty
Vladislav Gavrikov - Matt Roy
Andreas Englund - Brandt Clarke
Goalies:
David Rittich
Cam Talbot
Projected Carolina Hurricanes Lines:
Forwards:
Andrei Svechnikov - Sebastian Aho - Teuvo Teravainen
Michael Bunting - Jesperi Kotkaniemi - Stefan Noesen
Jordan Martinook - Jordan Staal - Seth Jarvis
Brendan Lemieux - Jack Drury - Jesper Fast
Defense:
Jaccob Slavin - Brent Burns
Brady Skjei - Brett Pesce
Dmitry Orlov - Jalen Chatfield
Goalies:
Antti Raanta
Yaniv Perets