Report: Kings want Hellebuyck, but LA have one goal in each of their last four games

By the Data Desk · Published 18 OCT 06:30 · Updated 19 OCT 07:30

First reported by Frank Seravalli, Sportsnet · 15 OCT 13:03

Alex Laferriere scored 31 seconds into Saturday's game against Boston, and the Kings did not score again: the Bruins won 4-1 at Crypto.com Arena, the last two goals into an empty net. Los Angeles are 0-4-2, the only NHL team without a win, and Frank Seravalli's report that they want Connor Hellebuyck is still not confirmed by either club.

• LA have scored exactly once in each of their last four games: 1-2 at home to Florida, 1-2 in overtime at Vegas, 1-4 at home to Edmonton and 1-4 at home to Boston (NHL).
• After six games they have 12 goals for and 25 against; eight of the 12 came in the first two games, 4-8 at Colorado and 4-5 in overtime at San Jose.
• Seravalli reported on 15 October that the Kings had asked about Hellebuyck and that he would accept a trade there; Elliotte Friedman reports that the Jets' suspension of the goalie is set to end on Friday, 23 October.

Seravalli's report, published by Sportsnet on Thursday and picked up by Daily Faceoff, said the Kings had "recently kicked the tires" on Hellebuyck and that the Kings "have received affirmation that Hellebuyck apparently would accept a trade to LA". He also wrote that the depth of the talks was "difficult to qualify". Neither the Kings nor the Jets have commented, and Chris Johnston still sees Buffalo and Carolina as likelier destinations, Markerzone reported from his show.

Saturday followed the pattern. Laferriere scored from Adrian Kempe's pass, David Pastrnak tied it 2:43 into the second period and Marat Khusnutdinov put Boston ahead with 6:24 left, before Elias Lindholm and JJ Peterka hit the empty net. Anton Forsberg made 24 saves on 26 shots and Jeremy Swayman stopped 25 of 26 at the other end. Boston have now won five in a row and lead the Atlantic with 14 points.

The four goals in four games came from Laferriere twice, Artemi Panarin on a power play and Brandt Clarke. LA outshot their opponents 113 to 107 in that run, so the shots are there; the finishing, at 3.5 per cent, is not. Darcy Kuemper's season numbers still look bad, 0-3-1 with a .847 save percentage, and Peter Laviolette, in his first season behind the Kings' bench, has a scoring slump and a goalie debate at the same time.

What happens next: the Kings start a road trip at Washington (5-3-0) on Tuesday, 20 October, at 23:00 UTC, then visit the Islanders on Thursday and New Jersey on Saturday. Hellebuyck's suspension is due to end on Friday, according to Friedman, who also says that without a trade the goalie could still stay away.