The Los Angeles Kings are sputtering on the road and assistant captain Jeff Carter isn’t thrilled about it.
Speaking with Helene Elliott of the Los Angeles Times following an embarrassing 6-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres at home, Carter said the Kings are a fragile team. He lamented if L.A. doesn’t start winning on the road, they’re not making the playoffs.
Jeff Carter: You don’t make playoffs winning at home and then going on the road and [messing] the bed….We're fragile. We're a fragile team
— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) December 14, 2016
The claims have merit, as the Kings are 10-4-1 on home, with just four wins (4-8-1) in 13 games on the road. It’s always going to be tougher playing away from your home building, but the Kings are a different team away from the Staples Center. Carter has been consistent in all buildings with seven goals and 11 points in 15 games at home, while recording seven goals and six assists in 13 points on the road.
Los Angeles is still in the thick of the playoff hunt at 14-12-2, but unless they plan on being a fringe playoff team throughout the season, they’ll need to get significantly better on the road. Starting a nine-game road trip won’t be easy, as Jonathan Quick will be out for almost the rest of the regular season with a groin injury. Tough climbing.
The Kings need to come off this road trip at around .500. Time to follow Carter’s words and prove they’re not fragile. Message received?
[theScore]
