LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Kings are one of the few teams in the NHL without a three-game winning streak this season and have won back-to-back games once in their last 13 games.
To sum up the Kings, you need just one word, inconsistent.
Some nights, they look like a defensively sound team with enough offense to get them over the line. On other nights, they get blitzed to start the third period and give up seven to the San Jose Sharks, their second loss in three games against the Sharks this season.
These aren't just one-off swings either, Monday's collapse against San Jose was the most egregious example, but inconsistency has marred this team all season.
Theory's on why that is are floating around social media and certain groups of fans are ready to riot, boo's even reigned down at Crypto.com Arena last week when LA lost 1-0 to the Buffalo Sabres. However, I don't think much searching needs to be done.
This team is as inconsistent as you'd expect from a team in their position. A good but not great team. Consistent play is one of the things that separates those great teams from the ones who are just good.
On an individual level, this team is also faltering. Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar are both on pace for an excellent season. Kopitar is on pace for the second-best point total he's ever registered at 93 and Kempe is on pace for a career-high 78 points. Outside of those two and young Brandt Clarke, the offense has completely fallen apart in LA.
Alex Laferriere is still on pace to shatter his career-highs but with zero points in six games and just three goals in his last 10, he appears to have cooled off. Kevin Fiala is on pace for his worst season since 2018-19, pacing for just 50 points and an abysmal -35.
Phil Danault is on pace for his lowest point total in a full season, while Trevor Moore's goalscoring has completely disappeared, on pace to follow his 31-goal season with an 11-goal campaign. Then there's Quinton Byfield, who's on pace for an 18-point regression.
Will all of these players finish the season with those exact numbers? Probably not, but just over a quarter of the way through the season, we can start taking sample sizes seriously. Across the board, this team has regressed offensively and there's no obvious answer in sight.
Despite some fans clamoring for it, there won't be a front office or bench change anytime soon and the Kings are extremely limited in their trade options. Their roster is what it is and there's not a lot they can do to tweak it now.
The return of Drew Doughty should help things, but hoping that one player, even one of Doughty's quality, can fix what appears to be deep-rooted issues for this team is very hopeful.
LA has a chance to right the ship a bit on Wednesday with the league-leading Winnipeg Jets coming to town, but one win won't fix their issues. The Kings must string together a few wins soon and the middle of their lineup must find their game, otherwise, this will be a long season for Kigns fans.