FINAL – Kings 2, Red Wings 5 – Fiala, Edmundson, Hiller

The LA Kings dropped their second straight game on the road, a 5-2 defeat against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday evening at Little Caesars Arena in Michigan.

The Kings opened the scoring in the latter half of the opening period as forward Kevin Fiala buried his 16th goal of the season. Working his way into the slot, Fiala changed the shooting angle ever so slightly, dragging the puck onto his forehand, before he sent a shot from the high slot past Detroit netminder Cam Talbot and in for the early 1-0 advantage on the road.

With just shy of three minutes remaining in the first period, Los Angeles doubled its lead, taking advantage of a fortuitous bounce in the offensive zone. Off a faceoff to the left of Talbot, Detroit defenseman Moritz Seider accidently put the puck into his own net for a 2-0 Kings lead. Forward Quinton Byfield was credited with the goal, putting him on the scoresheet in consecutive games.

Less than 60 seconds after the Byfield goal, Detroit got one back to take the game into the first intermission at 2-1. After working things around in the offensive zone, the puck deflected off a skate to forward Lucas Raymond at the back post, where he scored on his backhand to bring the hosts within a goal.

Skating on a 5-on-3 power play, Detroit tied the game at two. Raymond collected his second point of the game as he threaded a pass through the slot to forward Alex DeBrincat, who fired a one-timer from the left circle past Kings netminder Darcy Kuemper and in for his 21st goal of the season, which tied him with forward Dylan Larkin for the team lead in goals.

Detroit took its first lead of the game late in the second period. Forward Tanner Jeannot had his breakout pass deflected on the forecheck, leading another offensive attack for the Red Wings. Seconds later, the puck fell to forward Elmer Soderblom at the back post, where he slotted home his first goal of the season, giving the hosts a 3-2 lead heading into the second intermission.

Midway through the third period, the deficit doubled as forward Marco Kasper made it a 4-2 game. Skating in 2-on-1, Kuemper made the first save on Kasper from the right-hand circle, but the Austrian forward drove the net and buried the rebound as he fell to the ice for his ninth goal of the season and a two-goal advantage for the Red Wings.

Kasper added his second goal of the game into the empty net, inside ten seconds remaining in the game, for the 5-2 final

Hear from Fiala, defenseman Joel Edmundson and Head Coach Jim Hiller following tonight’s game.

Kevin Fiala

Joel Edmundson
On his takeaways from tonight’s game
Yeah, it’s a frustrating one. I thought we played well the first half and then only got a couple goals. The crowd came to life and we just couldn’t find ways to score. Goals aren’t coming easy for us right now, so I think we’ve just got to get back to the basics and get the net hard, and that’s when we were scoring more goals. So yeah, it’s frustrating, but it’s a long roadtrip and we’ve got a couple more game.

On what was lacking in the third period push down 3-2
I think just getting more pucks to the net, but at the same time, they did a good job of clearing pucks away and making it hard for us to get inside. It’s a tough league, we’ve got to find ways. We did that in Columbus, found a way to take it to overtime, but just didn’t have enough tonight.

On conceding shortly after taking a 2-0 lead
Yeah, I think that goal before the period definitely gave them life, but we still had the lead and still thought we were playing a good game. We were feeling good going in but they just had more chances and they buried.

On the type of response the team needs to have going into Florida on Wednesday
Just playoff intensity. I expect a 1-0, 2-0 game, like a really close game, that has no room. They play well at home, so we’ve got our work cut out for us, nut it’s always exciting to play the champs.

Jim Hiller
On the frustration of the team following tonight’s game
Yeah, I think we should be frustrated. I thought the first period was pretty good. Second period, lots of turnovers through the neutral zone, so we didn’t establish a forecheck. We did in the first and we didn’t in the second. If I had to pick one theme for us this year that, there’s been a lot of positives, but one theme that’s been negative is the second period turnovers. I don’t even want to say turnovers, just not being willing to forecheck in the second period.

On the game-winning goal and if that was a backbreaker for the group
Makes no sense. Makes no sense, that’s the way I look at that. We did a good job, we exited the puck, shorthanded, just a poor decision.

On the 5-on-3 goal coming on two offensive-zone penalties
The first one, Turc’s going for the puck, I have no issue with that. The second one, again, just not a good play. Then great execution by them on the 5-on-3, great pass, great shot, so not much you can do with that. Just can’t put yourself down 5-on-3.

On the push in the third period and if the team “ran out of gas”
I don’t know if it’s that. I think we were frustrated in the second period, probably in the second intermission. We had good energy after the first, second period we didn’t have the energy that we needed coming out of the dressing room. Coaches were mad, lots of people were mad. We just didn’t respond very well.

On getting a goal from Kevin Fiala and his level of play recently
Yeah, and give Phil credit, he was in front of Talbs on that one, Talbs didn’t have a chance to see that one. Kevin’s game is getting better, I think we’ve talked about that a little bit. I think it’s a pretty consistent level of intensity out of him, you know what I mean, and I think he’s much more dangerous, has the puck more. I think he’s going to have a really good second half.

Notes –
• Forward Kevin Fiala (1-0=1) scored his 16th goal of the season to extend his point-streak to a third consecutive contest (1-3=4), dating back to Jan. 22 vs. Florida. The winger also extends his road point-streak against Detroit to a fifth game (2-7=9), dating back to Feb. 27, 2020, as a member of the Minnesota Wild.
• Forward Quinton Byfield (1-0=1) recorded his 11th goal of the campaign, marking the third time this season that the center has scored in back-to-back games.
• Defenseman Jordan Spence (0-1=1) picked up his 14th assist of the season, his fourth point (1-3=4) in his last five appearances, dating back to Jan. 18 at Seattle.
• Forward Alex Laferriere (0-1=1) tallied his 15th helper of the campaign, his fourth assist against the Red Wings in as many career appearances.

The Kings have a scheduled team off day tomorrow in Florida. The team will return to the ice on Wednesday for a morning skate in advance of that evening’s game against the Panthers.