Kings’ poor play in the neutral zone is a big concern after loss in Game 3

The Kings mishandled the puck in the neutral zone while the Ducks were on a second-period power play and deadlocked 1-all. Defenseman Hampus Lindholm pried the puck away from the Kings, passed it to Nick Bonino and then watched Bonino pass it to Teemu Selanne for the go-ahead goal.

Later, in the third period, the Kings coughed up the puck at center ice again, with Ben Lovejoy passing ahead to Andrew Cogliano and then beating Jonathan Quick with a high shot to the glove side after receiving a return pass. Lovejoy’s goal proved to be the game-winner in a 3-2 victory for the Ducks.

Each play troubled the Kings.

“We made some turnovers that cost us,” Kings forward Jeff Carter said. “We were pretty sloppy in the neutral zone and turned pucks over and had rushes the other way. That’s something we didn’t do in the first two games. So we have to clean that up. We have to be hard on pucks, make strong plays and get pucks deep.”

 

 

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