Kings at Red Wings
Los Angeles Kings veteran center Jeff Carter didn't mince words when describing his team's lackluster performance following the first of nine consecutive games on the road. While several of his words are not fit for publication, suffice to say that Carter hopes the message was received by his teammates when the Kings visit the Detroit Red Wings on Thursday.
"Our second periods have not been good and they've been killing us and it's everybody," Carter said after scoring twice in Los Angeles' 6-3 setback to Buffalo on Tuesday. "It's top to bottom. It's unacceptable. You don't make the playoffs winning games at home and then going on the road and (playing poorly). We're fragile. We're a fragile team." Los Angeles carries a 4-8-1 mark away from Staples Center into Joe Louis Arena to face Detroit, which isn't singing a much better tune after being outscored 9-2 en route to dropping the first three contests (0-2-1) on its season-high five-game homestand. "Our start, the effort we had in the first period, it's embarrassing. That's on the leaders. That starts with me," Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said following Tuesday's 4-1 setback to an Arizona club that was routed 7-0 by Pittsburgh the previous day.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, FSN West (Los Angeles), FSN Detroit
ABOUT THE KINGS (14-12-2): While Carter's comments raised eyebrows on Tuesday, general manager Dean Lombardi did his best to calm the waters the following day. "I think these guys have been through so much and when you've got a guy that's got two rings on him I think he'll figure it out," Lombardi told the Los Angeles Times. "These guys have been through tougher periods than this, so if they can get through what they've gotten through in the past, then they can figure it out." Lombardi also addressed the Kings' sputtering goaltending (NHL 29th-ranked .896 save percentage) in the wake of Jonathan Quick's injury keeping the franchise netminder out until at least February, but admitted that he isn't going to "throw the kitchen sink at (the issue)."
ABOUT THE RED WINGS (13-13-4): Joe Louis Arena traditionally has been a safe haven for Detroit, although not this season as the club has mustered just 21 goals en route to dropping 11 of its last 13 home games. "We know the clocks are ticking," forward Tomas Tatar told the Detroit Free Press after Wednesday's practice. "You can't let any more games slip away. We just have to calm down. We know how to play. Our fans deserve better." Gustav Nyquist assisted on Andreas Athanasiou's tally on Tuesday, but has just one goal in his last 24 games and four in 30 this season - well off the pace of the 28 he scored in 57 contests in 2013-14.
OVERTIME
1. Detroit G Jimmy Howard owns a 2-4-1 mark at home this season despite recording a slim 1.65 goals-against average.
2. Reigning Norris Trophy winner D Drew Doughty has three goals and six assists in his last 10 games.
3. Red Wings D Alexey Marchenko is day-to-day with a shoulder injury, coach Jeff Blashill told reporters on Wednesday.