Devils' 2-1 Loss to Kings: Smothered

The New Jersey Devils couldn't get their offense going, as the Los Angeles Kings played a smothering defensive game en route to a 2-1 win.

---

Follow us on Twitter: @AlexC_NJD, @NJD_OnTheRush

---

The New Jersey Devils have been playing better hockey lately, specifically defensively. But they couldn't keep the good vibes going against a Los Angeles Kings team that played some suffocating hockey. Here are three takeaways from the 2-1 loss as the Devils prepare for the Stadium Series against the Philadelphia Flyers tomorrow night. 

Kings Stifled the Devils’ Offense

The Devils had no trouble creating offense against the Nashville Predators in a 4-2 win a couple of nights ago. But they ran into a much stiffer test against a Kings team desperate for a bounce-back performance after getting run out of the rink by the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday. 

From the opening faceoff, the Kings made it clear that they weren't going to let the Devils generate anything off the rush. They played a 1-3-1 neutral zone trap and essentially parked the bus, forcing the Devils to try and play dump and chase. That's not a surprise since the Kings have been one of the worst rush-defense teams in the NHL this season, too. 

Unfortunately for the Devils, they couldn't find a workaround for the Kings' defensive play. Even when they got into the offensive zone, the Kings mostly kept the Devils to the perimeter at five-on-five, only allowing them to generate 1.39 expected goals. Compared to the Predators game, where the Devils created 5.05 expected goals, that's a significant change. 

Obviously, some credit goes to the Kings for playing well defensively and not allowing the Devils to play their game. But last night was a missed opportunity for the Devils to grab two points heading into the Stadium Series. 

As Brendan Smith and coach Lindy Ruff said after the game, though, the Kings were a good test for the Devils. The Flyers play a similar stifling style defensively, so hopefully, the team can learn some lessons and adjust for a crucial game in the chase to get back in a playoff spot. 

Daws Continues Strong Play