Inexplicably, the Kings have seen their hottest streak of the season dissolve into the most frigid of cold spells in the space of consecutive 5-0 losses. The second came Tuesday in Tampa, where a fast start that featured 19 first-period shots fizzled, allowing the Lightning to sweep the season series from the Kings for the first time since 2008-09, when the teams met just once. And that has produced more questions than answers:
1. Does goalie Peter Budaj need a break?
Clearly something is not right with Kings’ defense.