FINAL – Kings 3, Blackhawks 4 (SO) – Danault, McLellan

The Kings came from behind in the third period to earn a point, but did not pick up the second in a 4-3 shootout loss against Chicago on Thursday evening at Crypto.com Arena.

Forward Phillip Danault scored twice, while forward Trevor Moore tallied shorthanded and defenseman Sean Durzi had a career-high three assists. Jonathan Quick made 28 saves in the overtime defeat.

Chicago opened the scoring this evening with the lone goal of the first period, just over three minutes from the intermission. After Alex DeBrincat’s shot from the center point missed wide of Quick’s net, the puck ricocheted off the end boards aggressively, right to Patrick Kane, who put it home for the game’s first goal.

The Kings fought back with a shorthanded goal, however, to knot the score at one early in the second period. After an early penalty, Durzi batted the puck out of the air to spring Moore on a breakaway, which he slotted in on the forehand to tie the game. Moore’s shorthanded goal was his second in as many games, tying him for the league lead with four this season.

The Blackhawks regained the advantage midway through the second, however, as DeBrincat made it a multi-point night from the slot. Stationed behind the net, forward Dylan Strome centered the puck to DeBrincat moving in, with the winger burying from close range for his team-leading 36th goal of the season.

Once again, special teams pulled the Kings even, however, as Danault scored on the power play to tie the game at two late in the second period. Off a quick shot by Anze Kopitar from the right-hand circle, Danault was able to get on the end of the rebound from close range to bury his 20th goal of the season, reaching that milestone for the first time at the NHL level.

The back-and-forth period continued just 79 seconds after Danault’s goal, with Chicago pushing ahead once again. Forward Taylor Raddysh fed linemate Sam Lafferty in tight, with the latter deking to his backhand and around Quick for his fourth goal of the season, pushing the score to 3-2.

With the Kings in need of a third-period goal, Danault came through once again with his second tally of the evening. After he fed Viktor Arvidsson, the winger’s shot hit off a Chicago defenseman, directly to Danault, and he buried on the backhand once again to tie the game up at three.

After the end of regulation, and overtime, came and went, the teams went to the shootout to determine the extra point. The Kings were unsuccessful on each of their three attempts, while DeBrincat scored in the third round, to seal the game for Chicago.

Hear from Phillip Danault and Todd McLellan after the game.

Phillip Danault
On the mistakes tonight leading to goals against
Yeah, the third goal was my guy there in front, but we played well, to be honest. They were opportunistic and they took advantage every chance they had. I thought we played okay, a pretty good game, but they were opportunistic. They’ve always been like that, so that’s probably about it. Overall, I thought we played better [than in Vegas].

On correcting defensive zone mistakes quickly
Oh yeah, for sure. Like I said, that was my guy there and I got sucked in on the wall. There is no problem, it’s just little details that we can fix and it’s a huge a point no matter what happened.

On hitting the 20-goal milestone tonight
I have some great linemates, it’s working well and my lineys are giving me the opportunities to score. I get to the net and get my nose dirty, if I get to the front of the net, they just feed me. I try to be around there all the time.

On Sean Durzi’s performance tonight
Durz is a huge, huge part of our team right now. I think he always will be. He’s got a great attitude, he came in as a rookie and now he stands up for the boys. He shows up every single game, great plays out there. On my second goal there, it was a great, heads-up play by him, great poise. I think Durz is an awesome player, to be honest. It’s not just pumping his tires, it’s true. Outstanding for us.

Todd McLellan
On if he was more upset with chances missed, or the goals conceded
We had opportunities offensively to score, but giving up three, four if you count the shootout goal is not the way we win. Disappointed in that, but I thought just overall, first time in a long time, even with all of the defensemen out, that it looked disjointed between forwards and D. Whether it was passing and execution coming out of our end, defending in our zone, there wasn’t a lot of communication. Duplication between forwards and d-men, missed coverages from the back of the net, we have to clean that up if we want to have success moving forward.

On if those things above are an example of inexperience
It happens. You know what, you get tired, you make a mistake, you don’t communicate. The first thing that goes when you’re tired is your tongue, you don’t talk anymore. The third goal, along the boards, Phil and Jordan Spence chased the same guy. All you have to do is talk and you could have it sorted out like that. Communication kind of went out the door and our passing was atrocious. There were opportunites when the quarterback hit the receiver right on the hands and he dropped the ball and there were other times when I don’t know where the quarterback was throwing it. It needs to get better.

On getting a point from a night with all of those mistakes
I think our goaltender played pretty damn well. He made some real good saves in tough situations that allowed us to get the point. Mooresy a shorthanded goal, Phil burrowing in around the net and finding the garbage. They continue to provide us with their “A” games, we were just a little short on bodies tonight in terms of “A” games go.

On Viktor Arvidsson’s first game back
I don’t think his gas tank was quite as robust as it was earlier, but that’s going to happen after three and a half weeks of watching games and not being able to skate, with the type of injury he had. I think he’s going to get that back really quick.

On Phil Danault hitting 20 goals and if that’s a validation of the offense the Kings thought they’d see when signing him
I would think so, yeah, with more to come. I believe he can continue to play the way he has. Adjusting to a new team, us trying to figure him out, him trying to figure us out, it takes a while. That’s what the first 10 games are for, but since then, he’s been an offensive force.

On if he believes Alex Iafallo has lost his confidence at the moment
I don’t believe in losing your confidence, I don’t know if it just falls out of your pocket or whatever. I think that he’s had real good opportunities and he’s probably shooting a little bit too fine, the spot he’s looking at is just getting smaller and smaller. Get it off a little bit quicker, find a garbage goal in and around the net. He came down on the 2-on-1, made the right decision to shoot and right into the mitt. When it’s going for him, he’s finding big holes to score on and right now he’s shooting at little holes. Once it comes, it will come.

Notes –
– Forward Trevor Moore tallied shorthanded for the second straight game, tying him for the league lead with four shorthanded goals this season.
– Forward Phillip Danault scored his 20th goal of the season tonight, the first time in his NHL career he’s reached the milestone.
– Danault added a second goal in the third period, giving him his fourth multi-goal game of the season
– Sean Durzi registered a career-high three assists tonight. Durzi tied the franchise record for most assists by a rookie defenseman in a single game (seventh different player; Alexei Zhitnik, 3x, Derek Forbort, Mark Hardy, Larry Murphy, Craig Redmond and Bill White). His 21 points on the season (2-19-21) are the most by a rookie defenseman since Drew Doughty put up 27 (6-21-27) during the 2008-09 season.
– Viktor Arvidsson registered his 21st assist of the season. Tonight was his first game back after missing the last eight games due to a lower-body injury.

The Kings are scheduled to hold practice tomorrow morning at 11 AM at Toyota Sports Performance Center.