Rangers Penalty Kill Comes Up Short in Loss to Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Throughout the ups and downs this season, the one constant for the Rangers has been its effective penalty kill.
But that failed Sunday night when the penalty kill, which began the day in fifth, allowed three goals in the first 10:22 of the second period in a 4-2 loss to the Kings.
"Our PK, what had been a real good weapon for us, tonight let us down," coach Alain Vigneault said. "They scored three goals and obviously that was the difference in the game."

After jumping out to a two-goal lead in the first period, Brendan Smith was called for roughing - in addition to a fighting major with Adrian Kempe - after the period expired that gave Los Angeles a power play to begin the second.
Los Angeles wasted little time in capitalizing when Jake Muzzin's blast from the point found a lane and into the cage just 30 seconds into the period.
"I'm definitely not crazy about that penalty at that time," Vigneault said, though he added he was unsure what started the altercation that included Tony DeAngelo and Trevor Lewis, whom Smith checked.
With the Rangers back on the kill, Marc Staal - who returned after missing two games - attempted to clear the puck but hit Rick Nash in the skates, keeping the play alive long enough for Michael Amadio to make it 2-0 at 6:13.
Tanner Pearson's goal midway through the frame gave the Kings the one-goal advantage they would not relinquish.
"You don't have to be very bright to figure out why we lost this one," said Henrik Lundqvist, who made 26 saves in making his second start in as many days. "We just couldn't get it done on our penalty kill, and I'm a big part of that, obviously. I have to work even harder to try and find the puck."
New York's power play got them going early when David Desharnais' low wrist shot from the circle beat Jonathan Quick 3:53 into the game, and Jimmy Vesey's 10th of the year at 7:12 gave the Rangers a two-goal lead.
But Jonathan Quick shut the door the rest of the way, and the three power play goals in the second - as well as an empty-net goal with 17.8 seconds remaining - proved enough for the Kings to snap a six-game losing streak and send the Rangers to their second consecutive loss to begin this four-game road trip that continues Tuesday night in Anaheim.
"It's frustrating," said J.T. Miller. "We came out with the right mindset and preparation and I think we played one of our best first periods in a while. Obviously they have a good power play and they made us pay in the second there. The same thing in the third, we were physical, we were on them and had our looks. Just finding the wrong end of the stick right now."