LOS ANGELES_The diverse mix that is the Los Angeles Kings lineup manifested well at times.
Franchise leaders Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty combined for the first goal, as Kopitar's assist extended his point streak to career-high 10 games and moved him into fifth on the Kings' all-time points list. Freshly acquired journeyman Jussi Jokinen got an assist in his Kings debut, while the Kings played four players with a combined 41 games of NHL experience.
All of those parts only added up to a four-game losing streak, though, after a 2-1 loss Thursday to the Boston Bruins. Consistency is a major issue during the streak, with all the losses coming before announced crowds of 18,230 fans at Staples Center.
"I don't think we're playing a 60-minute game," Kopitar said. "Parts of the games, we play like we need to be where we're in their zone making plays, creating chances, and in parts of the games, we're just pretty much non-existent out there. That's got to change. We have to have a better effort for a full game."
The Kings were beat on little plays, mental plays and couldn't muster a third-period comeback against the defensively stubborn Bruins. Kings coach John Stevens pointed to those little plays, against a team playing on the second straight night.
"We're going to have to dig down," Stevens said. "You can't have part of your lineup going. You need your whole lineup going if you're going to win. It doesn't matter who you're playing."
Zdeno Chara's second-period goal was the difference, and it swayed the game back to Boston after the Kings got energized by Doughty's goal during the second of three straight power plays in the period. Jokinen made a great pass from deep left wing, back out to a trailing Doughty, and his wrist shot just under the crossbar prompted him to kneel down for a huge fist pump.
The Kings only got one goal out of an 18-shot second period in which they were able to get Boston's Patrice Bergeron off the ice for four minutes because of roughing and hooking penalties. The former came following Christian Folin's big hit on Danton Heinen, and the latter was induced by Alex Iafallo.
Boston was without major players in Brad Marchand and Torey Krug, but David Krejci returned from injury. The Bruins also featured one of the best young defenseman in the game with Charlie McAvoy, who ended a stagnant opening-period with a highlight goal, thanks to broken defensive coverage.
Bergeron won a faceoff against Adrian Kempe, and David Pastrnak vacated the area to allow McAvoy to walk in on goal and flick a backhand over Quick.
Jokinen started on the fourth line with rookies Andrew Crescenzi and Jonny Brodzinski but was bumped to the second line. The Kings think Jokinen's experience and versatility can help their offense. He can play all three forward positions and, at 34, is known as a faceoff and shootout specialist with a 36 shootout goals, in 92 attempts.
How much he can contribute is to be determined, but he's ready.
"Physically, I feel great," Jokinen said before the game. "Like, I'm not 40. I'm 34. I still feel like I have lots left. I still love the game. I love to come to the rink every day. I hope I have (more) few years left in my time ... I need to get something going here and find a role on the team."
Jokinen acknowledged he fell out of favor with the Edmonton Oilers, reportedly because of a lack of speed.
"Things didn't work out there," Jokinen said. "I never was able to earn the coach's trust and as a player, you can just feel it when the coach doesn't have any confidence in you. I've been in the league long enough (to know)."
