By the numbers

Through eight games, how do the Kings measure up to last season in key statistical categories? This season’s stat and league ranking is followed by those from last season.

• Points/game: 1.0 (T18th); 0.96 (26th)
• Goals/game: 3.00 (T15th); 2.46 (27th)
• Goals against/game: 3.50 (T24th); 2.76 (11th)
• Power play: 21.0 percent (15th); 19.2 percent (T13th)
• Penalty kill: 64.7 percent (29th); 82.9 percent (7th)
• Shots/game: 28.0 (T21st); 29.1 (17th)
• Shots against/game: 28.0 (T8th); 28.1 (4th)
• Faceoffs: 44.0 percent (30th); 52.0 percent (4th)
• Penalty minutes/game: 12.0 (13th); 14.7 (19th)

Eight games isn’t a huge sample size, but this doesn’t require a whole lot of analysis. The offensive numbers are better, although not enough to elevate the Kings into the upper echelon of teams, while the defensive numbers have taken a fairly steep fall so far. The question is, why? The defensive personnel is practically the same, and should be improved with one “piece,” Rob Scuderi, and another year of experience for the young guys.

So what do you think? Is it goaltending? The defensemen? Contributing mistakes by forwards? I don’t think there’s a single issue, but maybe that’s an even bigger problem for the Kings. The goaltending hasn’t been consistently good enough, but forechecking, turnovers and other issues have contributed. What are your thoughts?