The Los Angeles Kings couldn't make it three straight wins on Saturday, dropping a shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at home.
The Los Angeles Kings couldn't make it three straight wins on Saturday, dropping a shootout loss to the Vegas Golden Knights at home.
It was a better start for the Kings compared to recent games, taking a 1-0 lead into the first intermission courtesy of Alex Laferriere, who scored on his birthday.
The Kings then went up 2-0 with an early goal from Trevor Lewis, but Vegas came charging back.
Goals from Michael Amadio and William Carrier tied the game and it remained tied throughout the second.
The Knights then took the lead early in the third period off a Mark Stone power-play tally.
The Kings left it late but eventually tied it with just over a minute left off another Drew Doughty point blast.
They then killed a penalty in overtime and nearly won it through Adrian Kempe, but the game needed a shootout.
The Kings couldn't solve Logan Thompson, making Jack Eichel's goal on Vegas' first attempt the game-winner.
Here are three takeaways from the loss:
Cam Talbot With Another Strong Game:
If there were any doubts about who the number-one goalie is heading into this game, they should be over now.
Starting in what was, essentially, a back-to-back scenario for him, Cam Talbot came up with a strong performance.
He finished with 27 saves on 30 shots and had a few huge saves late in the third and in overtime.
He robbed Eichel on a few occasions throughout the game and shot across the net in overtime to deny Stone a game-winner.
The Kings' goaltending hasn't been spectacular this season, but Talbot looks like a solid NHL netminder right now, and that's all they can ask of him.
Obviously, they need Pheonix Copley to find his game, but Talbot looks like a very capable number one right now.
Adrian Kempe Still Struggling to Score:
Use any cliche you want, "snake-bitten," "gripping the stick too tight," whichever one you want, they all apply to Kempe right now.
He isn't playing poorly, but he's lacking that killer edge that led him to score 41 goals last season.
There were a few plays on Saturday where I felt an on-form Kempe would have buried and made a big difference in the game.
Of course, he's always been someone who can score in bunches, so this could be a moot point by this time next week.
Drew Doughty Leading the Way:
Before the game, I questioned how Trent Yawney would manage Doughty after playing 27 minutes Friday night in Arizona.
The answer was playing him 27 minutes again against the Knights, and Doughty handled them with relative ease.
He came up clutch again against Vegas, burying the game-tying goal with another big blast from the point, something he's made a habit of over the last two games.
I won't go so far as to say we're seeing peak Doughty again, but we aren't far off it right now.
He's an undisputed number-one defenseman and is adding an offensive element we haven't seen from him in a while.