A better effort away from Staples, but still not enough for that now elusive road win for the Kings.
Marion Gaborik tallied two points and Martin Jones made thirty saves in the start, but a less-than sixty minute effort once again cost the Kings two points on the road. The Nashville Predators handed the Kings their eighth loss in nine tries outside of Los Angeles County by means of a shootout that included twelve shooters, but only one goal. James Neal's snapshot found a way through Jones' leg pads, solidifying the extra point in the standings for the Predators.
Los Angeles seemed to be on their heels early on, stirring up feelings of Déjà vu for Kings fans everywhere. Just past the six minute mark of the opening frame, Nashville's Colin Wilson found Craig Smith with a cross-ice pass, who burned by Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin to beat Jones low for the game's opening strike.
Once again, Los Angeles allowed a first period goal, bringing their goal differential in the opening twenty to a horrid minus-12. Los Angeles responded quickly, as Jamie McBain scored his first of the season, compliments of a gratuitous redirection off his skate as he was crashing the Nashville net. The teams would head in to the intermission deadlocked at one, thanks in part to Jones and his eleven saves in the period.
The Kings would finally hold a lead, their first in nearly a week, after Jeff Carter engineered a perfect play to put Gaborik's speed on display en route to the Slovak's fourth goal of the season. From his own zone, Carter lobbed the puck in to the air and through the neutral zone for Gaborik picked it up just inside the Nashville zone before beating Pekka Rinne's glove to make it 2-1 Kings. From there on, Los Angeles seemed to pick up their game.
Time in the penalty box opened the door for Nashville's power play to go to work, employing Shea Weber's booming shot from the point. The Kings were able to kill off both minor infractions, but it was the Preds who were able to control the puck for the majority of the frame. It actually seemed as though the Kings were going to head in to the third period with a lead, but in less than a minute, Nashville scored two to regain the lead late in the second.
A strong fore check caused Nashville Ryan Ellis to find the puck at the point, where he blasted one by Jones to tie the score at two. Fifty-two seconds later, Preds forward Eric Nystrom tipped a Taylor Beck attempt behind Jones for a 3-2 lead with only 1:32 remaining.
Nashville's lead was short-lived though due to a highlight-reel goal by Kings defender Drew Doughty. Doughty channeled his inner Bobby Orr with a coast-to-coast effort, starting from behind his own net, and finishing it off with a quick shot through Rinne's legs. The two teams would each have their chances to retake the lead on power play opportunities, but key saves from both net minders kept the score tied through sixty minutes.
The five minutes of overtime solved nothing, even with Nashville's abbreviated power play time, meaning a shootout would decide who took the extra point in the standings.
This is where it all got a little strange for Los Angeles. Jones and Rinne both stopped the first three shooters they faced, causing the shootout to go from a 'best of three' format to a 'sudden-death' situation. James Neal, the sixth shooter for Nashville, picked up the puck at center ice with full speed, snapping the puck through Jones' five-hole. Los Angeles, with a chance to score and even up the shootout, sent Dwight King to try to solve Rinne. King was unable to score and Nashville would win 4-3.
One can only wonder why Dwight King was called upon in the shootout. King was chosen ahead of the likes of Tanner Pearson, who leads the team with eleven goals, Justin Williams, and Mike Richards. Would any of those three have scored if chosen over King? The world may never know, but it is fair to believe that they would had a better chance to find the back of the net.
Nevertheless, Los Angeles can take a point from the night. Of course, two is better than one here, but considering the way Nashville was the better team for the majority of the game, the Kings should be thankful for the lone point. After all, it is the season of gratitude.
Next up for the Kings is a date with the Minnesota Wild Wednesday evening, where they will again look for win number two on the road. This will be no easy task, as Zach Parise and the Wild are 7-1-0 at the Xcel Energy Center. Faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 local time.