What we learned from Kings’ 4-3 loss to Carolina Hurricanes

They haven’t lost consecutive games since starting the season 0-3 but dropped back-to-back contests at Detroit and Carolina. A few more takeaways after an inconsistent afternoon performance Sunday.

Lack of discipline continuing to haunt the Kings

Kings associate head coach John Stevens addressed the issue after the team’s morning skate Monday in Florida. The Kings play the Florida Panthers on Monday.

“I think it’s pretty clear for us. Our goals against is critical for us,” Stevens said. “The penalty kill is a big part of it — both taking penalties and killing penalties. We put ourselves in situations [Sunday] with extended five-on-threes that they capitalized on.

“If you’ve got to score five goals to win, you’re probably not going to win.”

Slow starts, again

The Kings have given up the first goal in all three games on this trip, all in the first period.

“Our first periods have got to be better,” Kings defenseman Drew Doughty said Sunday. “It’s a matter of going in and doing it. We’ve got to fix that real quickly. That’s why we’re losing games, first periods.”

Said Stevens on Monday: “It’s far more taxing playing from behind. It’s far easier for teams like Carolina … to play with a lead. So giving up an early goal. If you look at faceoffs, we knew they [the Hurricanes] were a good faceoff team and we gave up a couple of goals on faceoffs.

“Clearly, first periods are critical. If you look at the winning percentage, in first periods, teams that have the lead after the first period, it’s a really high winning percentage.”

Goal-scoring drought continues for bottom six

The Kings’ third line: Center Nick Shore has two goals and no assists in 20 games and his linemates, captain Dustin Brown and Trevor Lewis, also have two goals each. Brown’s second goal of the season came on a penalty shot Sunday.

Lewis has no points in his last eight games.

For the fourth line, the lack of scoring is even more pronounced. Left wing Kyle Clifford, center Andy Andreoff and right wing Jordan Nolan have combined for one goal this season, by Andreoff. Jordan Weal took Andreoff’s spot in Sunday’s game and he has no points in three games.

Twitter: @reallisa