Trip turning sour, as Red Wings fail to get started in 4-1 loss to Kings

This road trip through California has suddenly turned ugly for the Red Wings.

The news didn't get any better Saturday for the Wings, who barely got anything going offensively in a 4-1 loss to Los Angeles.

One night after the Wings blew a two-goal lead in Anaheim and allowed a season-high six goals to the low-scoring Ducks, the Wings were outshot 41-18 by Los Angeles and had few quality scoring chances. Playing their third game in four nights on a trip that began Wednesday in Pittsburgh, the travel and games appeared to catch up to the Wings.

Dylan Larkin denied the Kings a shutout with his 10th goal at 18 minutes, 33 seconds of the third period.

Mikey Anderson and Tanner Jeannot scored 20 seconds apart late in the first period, sending Los Angeles (10-6-3) to a lead it wouldn't relinquish. Adrian Kempe scored two third-period goals, including his ninth goal into an empty net to end the scoring, while goaltender David Rittich stopped 17 shots.

Anderson opened the scoring with his third goal at 18:07. Lucas Raymond's pass skating out of the zone was intercepted, and the puck got to Anderson, who was able to slip the puck behind goaltender Cam Talbot.

Just 20 seconds later the Kings made it 2-0 on Jeannot's second goal. Erik Gustafsson's shot from the point was blocked and sent the Kings on a two-on-one rush with Trevor Lewis. Jeannot went to the net and tapped in the pass through the crease from Lewis.

After a suffocating second period by the Kings, Los Angeles scored only 15 seconds into the third period on Kempe's goal.

The Wings won a faceoff but Alex DeBrincat lost control of the puck near the slot and Kempe took advantage, splitting the Wings' defense of Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot, and beating Talbot on the breakaway.

The Wings were without defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower-body), who took a puck off the side of his left knee in Friday's loss. Edvinsson took the pregame skate against the Kings, but was noticeably wincing and couldn't turn comfortably.

Coach Derek Lalonde also scratched forward Michael Rasmussen up front, replacing Rasmussen in the lineup with Tyler Motte.

The Wings (7-9-1) end this four-game trip Monday in San Jose.