Kings get a lesson in Stanley Cup readiness, losing to Red Wings, 7-4

At least the Kings were competitive before the puck was dropped Monday.

Right wing Justin Williams was given a four-year contract extension, worth $14.6 million. Power forward Dustin Penner was acquired from Edmonton in a trade.

This is what contenders do to gear up for a Stanley Cup run … then a team that has made that run dropped by Staples Center.

By the time the Detroit Red Wings finished off a 7-4 victory, where the two teams stood was reaffirmed.

The Red Wings scored soft goals and ones for the news-at-11 highlights. They scored power-play goals and a short-handed one. Heck, Drew Miller, who had four goals in his previous 54 games, scored two, and the Red Wings continued to chase Vancouver for the Western Conference’s best record.

The Kings scored brownie points for trying to get some traction in the race to get to the playoffs, and missed a chance to move into fourth place in the conference.

“We’ve got to forget about this,” defenseman Jack Johnson said. “This was a disaster. You’re going to have one or two of these in an 82-game season.”

The Red Wings don’t have them very often, even while wading through injuries this season.

Pavel Datsyuk scored his seventh goal in 11 games since returning from the injured reserve. Danny Cleary scored his sixth in 14 games since coming back.

The Red Wings led, 7-1, before coasting to the finish.

“They came in and gave us a real lesson on what it takes to be ready,” Kings Coach Terry Murray said.

The Kings’ high points came before the sun set.

First came Williams, who has been slowed by injuries in recent seasons, has rebounded to score 20 goals this season and is now locked up though 2015.

“Certainly it shows that the team is happy with you, believes in you, and is investing a lot of money in your play,” Williams said about the message the contract sends. “They did their part, now it is time for me to do mine. I want to make them look real good.”

Then came Penner, a 20-goal scorer who won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks.

“I have been here for a while, and have been through a number of trade deadlines, and a lot of times we were not even looking to bring players in, but move players out,” Kings captain Dustin Brown said.

“It’s a lot more exciting when we’re buyers rather than sellers.”

Then came the game.

Things unraveled in 30 seconds during the first period.

Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick stopped 51 shots in shutting out the Red Wings on Dec. 13. He allowed three goals on the first nine shots Monday, two in 30 seconds which erased a 1-0 lead.

Miller scored a soft goal, throwing the puck into the crease and off Quick’s pad to tie the score.

Cleary charged down the slot, reached out and redirected Jiri Hudler’s pass into the net for a 2-1 lead 30 seconds later.

The Kings’ day was over. The Red Wings’ had just begun.

chris.foster@latimes.com