3 least impressive New Jersey Devils players from 3-0 loss to Los Angeles Kings feat. Stefan Noesen

The New Jersey Devils dropped their second straight game on their California road swing, falling to the host Los Angeles Kings at Crypto.com Arena by a 3-0 final score.

Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper stopped all 33 shots that the Devils sent his way for his first shutout of the season and the 32nd of his NHL career. The Devils were unable to breach Kuemper on Wednesday despite five shot attempts from star Jack Hughes and three each from Nico Hischier and Erik Haula.

It was also the eighth straight win on home ice for the Kings; their home-winning percentage of .844 is the best in the NHL. Meanwhile, the Devils have now lost three straight regulation games for the first time this season.

Neither team scored during the opening 20 minutes of play, setting the stage for Andre Lee to score his first career NHL goal just before the midway point of the second period.

The Kings then padded their lead in the game's final frame after goals from Quinton Byfield (his 10th of the season) and an empty net goal from Adrian Kempe late in regulation with Jake Allen on the bench for an extra attacker.

3 least impressive New Jersey Devils players from 3-0 loss to Los Angeles Kings

#1. Stefan Noesen

The reliable Devils forward has been a net positive for New Jersey this season, having scored 16 goals in 40 games played.

However, he generated nothing on Wednesday against the Kings, finishing with zero shots while also posting a substandard -2 rating.

If the Devils are to break their season-high three-game losing skid, they'll need Noesen back at the top of his game, which he wasn't against Los Angeles.

#2. Brett Pesce

The Devils defenseman not only finished with a -2 rating but was also caught out of position on Lee's second-period goal when Jordan Spence air-lifted a pass down the ice, allowing Lee to blow past him and score his first-ever goal.

#3. Jake Allen

Allen didn't have a terrible performance against the Kings but also failed to come up with a pair of saves that he needed to make.

Allen is playing in his first full year with the Devils after being acquired from the Montreal Canadiens at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline, and has mostly played backup to Jakob Markstrom.