The Kings squandered a chance to tie the Red Wings, but failed to click on a 5-on-3 power play midway through the second period Wednesday night at Staples Center. Detroit’s Justin Abdelkader took a boarding penalty at 11:35 and Jonathan Ericsson went off for tripping at 11:58.

But the Kings managed only three shots on net while on the two-man advantage and then failed to produce a single shot after the Red Wings’ Pavel Datsyuk took a hooking penalty. The period ended with the Red Wings still leading 1-0 and outshooting the Kings 20-18.

The Kings’ best chance during their extended power play was snuffed by Detroit goaltender Jimmy Howard. Mike Richards found Kings captain Dustin Brown cutting toward the net and slipped him a pass from behind the goal line. Howard denied Brown, however.

In the end, about the only benefit to the Kings playing for so long on the power was the Red Wings couldn’t extend their lead. The Kings went into the third period trailing by only a goal. They needed only to look at Monday’s win over the Ducks to know they could wipe out that deficit.

The Kings trailed the Ducks by scores of 1-0 and 2-1 before rallying to win 5-2.