Los Angeles Kings Struggle Amid Defensive Mistakes and Questions About Coach's Future

Despite recent losses, players defend coach Todd McClellan as team focuses on maintaining wild-card spot in Pacific Division

The Los Angeles Kings have lost or tied 12 of their last 14 games, leading to questions about the job security of head coach Todd McClellan.
The Kings' recent performance has been marked by defensive mistakes and a slump in their top pairing of Drew Doughty and Mikey Anderson.
Despite the team's struggles, some players, including Doughty and Anže Kopitar, have defended McClellan, saying the responsibility for the team's performance lies with the players.
The Kings' recent losses have put them in a precarious position in the Pacific Division, with the team now focusing on maintaining a wild-card spot rather than chasing down Vancouver and Vegas.
Despite the team's struggles, there are indications that the Kings' performance may improve, including underlying numbers suggesting the team is more like the first-half team than the second-half team, and the fact that no team has shot worse than the Kings' 4.9 percent over the past month, a trend that is unlikely to continue.