Nov. 01--REPORTING FROM DETROIT -- We will spare you the typical Halloween references after a particularly rough outing for the Kings on Friday night at Detroit. As always, there are a few takeaways after the third game on this five-game trip. The only nightmares they probably suffered were of the Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk wreaking havoc. At his best, he can make even superstars look silly.
Goals from the defense ... finally
The skies opened and, voila, there was an actual goal from a Kings defenseman.
Perhaps it was fitting that it happened to be Alec Martinez, who scored the final goal in the playoffs, the Stanley Cup-clinching goal against the New York Rangers.
So, it took 11 games this season.
Last season, it took all of 7 minutes and 40 seconds. Defenseman Drew Doughty scored in the first period at Minnesota and the Kings went on to win, 3-2, in a shootout. Incidentally, they also received goals from defensemen in the next two games: Matt Greene (vs. Winnipeg) and Jake Muzzin (vs. the Rangers).
Tyler Toffoli, the shorthanded threat
The Kings lead the NHL with three shorthanded goals and youngster Tyler Toffoli has scored all three.
In fact, his three shorthanded goals are half his season total.
According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Toffoli became the fastest to reach that shorthanded mark since Claude Giroux of the Flyers accomplished it during the 2010-11 season, recording three shorthanded goals in 10 games. The Kings noted that Mike Murphy scored three shorthanded goals in 12 games in the 1976-77 season.
Don't press the panic button, just yet
Despite losing back-to-back games in regulation for the first time this season, the Kings have the same point total as last season after 11 games. They are 6-3-2 this season and were 7-4 after 11 games in 2013-14.
They have been without center Anze Kopitar, their leading scorer the last seven seasons, for the first three games of this trip. He suffered an upper-body injury against Columbus on Sunday at Staples Center. Kopitar indicated he was aiming to return on Sunday at Carolina, and failing that, the Kings next play at Dallas on Tuesday.
