Kings Tie as Lead Crumbles

Threes have been wild, in a way that is neither pleasing nor preferred, but somewhat predictable for the Kings.

The Kings lost a three-goal lead at Staples Center for the third time this season, once again turning an easy two points into something less satisfying for King fans and much less valuable in the standings.

Ladislav Nagy tied the score with 1:10 left in a game that ended in a 4-4 tie Thursday with the Phoenix Coyotes before a disenchanted crowd of 17,716.

Nagy’s goal negated a rarity -- a goal by King defenseman Mattias Norstrom -- but contributed to a trend the Kings would just as soon forget. A 3-0 lead against the Boston Bruins turned into a 4-3 loss in October and a 4-1 lead last month over the Toronto Maple Leafs became a 4-4 tie.

Thursday, a 3-0 first-period lead became problematic for a variety of reasons, in particular poor special teams that surrendered two power-play goals and an almost unheard-of short-handed goal on a two-on-none rush.

Norstrom, a solid defenseman but a poor choice for fantasy hockey drafts, almost bailed out the Kings with a goal at 15:06 of the third period, but Nagy’s wrist shot ended any tongue-in-cheek post-game chatter about Norstrom’s sudden scoring prowess.

Instead, there were discussions of missed opportunities, the kind that bother King Coach Andy Murray to no end.

“We haven’t been good on the penalty kill, but we have to step up there and we didn’t,” Murray said. “Then we were on the power play and we make a behind-the-back pass and give them a breakaway. Then the goalie lets one in from about the goal line.”

For whatever reason, the Coyotes, who began the game tied for last in the Pacific Division with the Mighty Ducks, bring out the best and worst in the Kings.

The Kings looked flawless in a 7-3 victory Nov. 1 against the Coyotes, but their 6-4 Thanksgiving loss to Phoenix was one of their least pleasant efforts this season. After that one, Murray singled out defensemen Lubomir Visnovsky and Jaroslav Modry, who were a combined minus-seven.

Visnovsky and Modry did their part Thursday, combining for a goal and two assists, but they couldn’t stop the Coyotes from coming back. Visnovsky wasn’t around for the end of the game, leaving early in the third period after getting hit near the right eye with Daymond Langkow’s stick late in the first period.

“To have a 3-0 lead and lose it, that shouldn’t happen,” winger Trent Klatt said. “It’s inexcusable. We made mistakes, we took penalties. Special teams weren’t good on either side tonight.”

Alexander Frolov, Visnovsky and Luc Robitaille scored in the first period, but the Kings’ special teams decided to make it interesting.

With Sean Avery off the ice for high-sticking, Jan Hrdina scored on a wrist shot 4:07 into the second period. Then, with Norstrom in the penalty box for tripping, Jeff Taffe knocked in a rebound of Paul Mara’s shot 20 seconds into the third period.

A miscue by Joe Corvo helped tie the game at 3-3 at 6:52 of the third period. Corvo turned over the puck to Langkow at the Phoenix blue line. Langkow skated up ice with Shane Doan, not a King in sight, except for goaltender Cristobal Huet. Langkow fed Doan, who deked Huet and scored on a backhand.

Though the Kings didn’t lose, it felt like it.

“Sure, it really does, even though we got a point,” Klatt said.