Penalty Kill: Kings face Sharks with league-worst shorthanded record
Los Angeles allows 38.5% of shorthanded chances to become goals, a figure that has cost them points in recent games.
By Mateo Thompson ·
The Los Angeles Kings enter Wednesday's game against the San Jose Sharks carrying a penalty kill that ranks last in the National Hockey League. The team has stopped 61.5% of shorthanded chances this season, a league-worst mark that has directly impacted their 4-7-2 record.
Coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the struggle following a loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. In that game, the Kings gave up two of their three goals while down a man, including the winner. Laviolette stated that every shorthanded goal is different but emphasized that the team must improve to make a difference in the game.
The Kings' shorthanded issues are not new. Two years ago, the franchise traded for defensemen Cody Ceci and Brian Dumoulin to address the problem. That move followed the departures of Vladislav Gavrikov and Jordan Spence. Despite the additions, the Kings fell from eighth in the league to 30th among 32 teams in penalty kill efficiency over that period.
General Manager Ken Holland previously stated that the team could not expect to reach the playoffs with such poor special teams numbers. The current season has seen continued difficulty, with the Kings currently holding 10 points, placing them below the Sharks who have 15 points.
Injury concerns have compounded the offensive struggles. Brandt Clarke was injured during an overtime win against Ottawa on Thursday but returned for the loss to Buffalo on Saturday. He missed Monday's practice due to another scare but was back on the ice Tuesday. The Kings also expect Adrian Kempe to return from a one-game absence, joining Drew Doughty and Corey Perry who returned last week.
Long-term absentees Kevin Fiala, Alex Turcotte, and Mats Zuccarello remain on the injured reserve list. Fiala has missed games since early February with a broken leg. Turcotte has been out since October 4 with an undisclosed injury. Zuccarello has had two stints on the list due to a shoulder issue.
The Sharks pose a specific threat with their power play unit. Star center Macklin Celebrini leads the group. He signed a five-year extension worth $18.8 million per year this past summer, which takes effect in the 2027-28 season. Rookie Ivar Stenberg also contributes heavily, with seven of his nine points coming on the extra man. The game starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Crypto.com Arena.
