Hiller: Kings' blowout loss on night honoring firefighters 'disappointing'

Jim Hiller wasn't happy after his Los Angeles Kings fell 5-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins at home on a night when the hosts honored firefighters and first responders in their first game back in town since wildfires ravaged the L.A. area.

"Disappointing on a night like tonight," he told reporters following Monday's defeat. "I can probably count maybe only five times I've been disappointed in our team this season. Tonight is one, maybe the most."

Hiller said the circumstances should've inspired the team when asked whether the emotion of the night held the club back.

"No, I'm not going to make any excuses for that," he said. "That should've been the opposite. Logic would tell you that it should've helped us and not hurt us."

The Kings' game against the Calgary Flames on Jan. 8 was postponed due to the fires, and L.A. then played the next five games on the road as planned.

The home side donned Los Angeles Fire Department hats during the warmup Monday night.

The Kings thanked firefighters from several areas in the L.A. region and held a moment of silence for the victims in a touching pregame ceremony.

"For me, it was really humbling to see the guys out there, and gals ... I felt a little emotional," Hiller said.

"I felt like those people have been out there doing some pretty amazing things and we just saw a little bit from a long distance," he continued. "We're in our own little bubble doing what we have to do, and it brought it to life for me - pretty personal - and was just disappointed we couldn't do more with it."

The Kings' loss Monday was their second straight after the Seattle Kraken beat them 4-2 on Saturday. Los Angeles has lost four of its last five after winning five consecutive contests. The club sits third in the Pacific Division at 25-14-5 this season.