FINAL – Kings 1, Devils 3 – Spence, Danault, Hiller

The LA Kings saw their six-game winning streak come to an end on Thursday evening at Prudential Center, as they fell to the New Jersey Devils by a 3-1 final score.

After a first period that came and went without a goal, the teams traded tallies in the middle stanza, sending the game into the second intermission 1-1.

The Kings opened the scoring through defenseman Jordan Spence, who capped off one of his strongest shifts of the season with his second goal overall. First, Spence defended a 2-on-1 rush with his stick, pushing the puck ahead to start the attack in transition the other way. He then joined the rush, creating a 3-on-2 situation and finished a pass from Alex Laferriere with a one-timer for the 1-0 advantage.

Late in the second period, the Devils equalized on a deflected goal, tying the game at one. Forward Jack Hughes circled the wagons, capitalizing on a bit of a pick play to create space through the slot. He then pulled the puck onto his forehand in the right-hand circle and snapped a shot towards the net, with forward Ondrej Palat deflecting it past Kings netminder David Rittich for the equalizer.

Just short of 13 minutes into the third period, the Devils took their first lead of the evening. The duo of Palat and Hughes connected once again, with Palat this time the playmaker, feeding Hughes after he won a race to the low slot and buried his 11th goal of the season for a 2-1 advantage.

Inside three minutes to play, the Devils iced the game with a shorthanded goal, from defenseman Brett Pesce, bringing us to the final score of 3-1. Hughes had the first attempt, rushing into the attacking zone, and after his shot was blocked, Pesce followed the play and buried the rebound for the two-goal advantage.

Hear from Spence, forward Phillip Danault and Head Coach Jim Hiller following tonight’s game.

Jordan Spence

Phillip Danault
On the difference in tonight’s game, especially during the third period
Little mistakes, I would say, they capitalized on more and they had more shots, we didn’t shoot enough. Not a bad game overall, but definitely we need to generate a little bit more shots.

On what he felt led to the team not getting the number of shots they wanted
We had the time [in the offensive zone]. They played well too, had some good D, they played tight defensively. We didn’t have much, they didn’t give us much, to be honest, but we’ve got to find a way in those games.

On seeing Jordan Spence contribute at both ends of the ice
Big play from Spenny, a big game from him as well. Great to capitalize, a great shot and most importantly, the defensive play he did. It was outstanding to join the rush after and get rewarded.

On what he’d like to see the Kings do differently heading into Saturday
Yeah, maybe a little more aggressive right from the get go. It wasn’t a bad game. They capitalized a little more, but I would say the pace was there. I didn’t mind our game, it’s just a matter of capitalizing.

Jim Hiller
On the difference in the third period, after a closely-contested 40 minutes
We made a couple of mistakes and they scored on the mistakes, that was all. It was a pretty tight game, as you mentioned, both ways. I thought the second period was probably our best, we missed some of our opportunities then,and they capitalized on a couple mistakes.

On if Palat’s goal late in the second was a turning point in the game
I don’t think it turned but that’s just a situation where you have to be able to manage that. It’s a good team and they make it hard on you. We hadn’t got a lot, but you come to the third period with 1-0 lead, you’re in pretty good shape, right where you want to be. So, yeah, that’s a mismanagement by us and obviously it came back to hurt us.

On the players’ sentiment in not getting enough shots on goal tonight
We passed some stuff up, for sure. I’m not too worried about the shot clock, I don’t know on that one tonight, the stuff that we missed the net on, opportunities, I’m more concerned with that than just flat out shots. Some of our best chances, we missed on.

On Jordan Spence breaking up a 2-on-1 and finishing with a goal the other way
That’s a great sequence for him. I don’t know if there’s a better 15 seconds when you break up a 2-on-1 and then you end up taking advantage of that good defensive play to make an offensive player yourself. So yeah, real good on Spenny there.

On the goals the team conceded tonight
All three of the goals we had the puck on our stick and five seconds, six, seven seconds later, it’s in the back of our net.

Notes –
• Defenseman Jordan Spence (1-0=1) broke the open tonight’s scoring late in the second period with his second goal of the season, his second point (0-2=2) in his last three outings.
• The goal marks Spence’s fifirst point against the Devils through two games played against the franchise. • Through 28 games played so far this season, the 23-year-old blueliner has tied his single-season career
high in goals (2), set twice before (2021-22, 24 GP; 2023-24, 71 GP).
• Forward Phillip Danault (0-1=1) set-up Spence’s game-opener to earn his 12th assist of the campaign.
Danault now has four points over his past two games against the Devils, powered by his second career hat
trick in the Kings 5-1 victory on March 3, 2024.
• Forward Alex Laferriere (0-1=1) assisted on Spence’s opening tally, his second point (1-1=2) in as
many games against the Devils, dating back to March 3, 2024. In doing so, the native of Chatham, N.J., registered his first NHL point in his home state and now has seven points (4-3=7) in as many contests dating back to Nov. 27 v. Winnipeg.

The Kings will not hold an on-ice practice tomorrow and will return to the ice on Saturday at 10 AM Pacific, 1 PM local time against the New York Rangers as Madison Square Garden.