Last 16 Games Have Not Been Sweet for Players

A closer look at the Kings’ slide from the high point in their season, when they were 15-10-4-3 after a 5-4 victory over the Mighty Ducks on Dec. 19, to the low, 18-22-4-4 after Thursday night’s 2-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild:

They’re 3-12-0-1 and have been outscored, 56-31, while converting 11.7% of their power-play opportunities and killing 79.4% of their penalties, figures that if extrapolated over a full season would rank among the league’s worst.

They’ve averaged 1.94 goals, scoring one or fewer in nine of the 16 games, all nine of them losses.

Goaltenders Felix Potvin and Jamie Storr have combined for a 3.50 goals-against average, nearly double the league leaders, and .865 save percentage, which would be the league’s worst if spread out over the season.

They’ve fallen from seventh place in the Western Conference to 11th, only two points ahead of the last-place Columbus Blue Jackets.

On a team decimated by injuries, Ziggy Palffy, Mikko Eloranta and Brad Norton are the only forwards among only seven Kings who have played in all 16 games.

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TONIGHT

vs. New Jersey, 7:30

Fox Sports Net

Site -- Staples Center.

Radio -- KSPN (710).

Records -- Kings 18-22-4-4, Devils 29-12-3-3.

Record vs. Devils (2001-02) -- 1-0.

Update -- Before Friday night’s 3-1 victory over the Mighty Ducks, the Devils led the NHL in penalty killing and ranked second behind the Dallas Stars with a 1.97 goals-against average. No. 1 goaltender Martin Brodeur was scheduled to start against the Kings after sitting out against the Ducks.

Tickets -- (888) 546-4752.