The Kings had another dominate night in the faceoff circle, winning 63% at the dot. Although Anaheim had more shots (26-25), hits (36-29) and blocked shots (19-10), there was one other key category where LA came out on top – goals. With a final score of 5-2 they extracted a little revenge for the stinker in Anaheim earlier this month and have now run their recent record to four straight wins.
Here are the full post-game thoughts from coach Darryl Sutter…
– On the overall game: “We struggled for the first half of the game. I think Jordan Nolan’s fight gave us a little energy, and obviously the power play going into the third was huge.”
– On the third period penalty kill: “Well, they’ve got a good power play. Percentage-wise, it’s a really good power play, and personnel-wise it’s a really good power play. So you have to try and manage your way around it. My biggest concern was we didn’t have a power play yet going into the third. I think in our last eight, now counting tonight, nine, we’ve only had nine power plays in five games – so the only time we get to practice it is in practice.”
– On this being the Kings’ best performance so far this season: “Not tonight it wasn’t, no.”
– But in the last stretch of games: “(We) played good in Edmonton and Calgary.”
– On Davis Drewiske’s play tonight: “He didn’t get any more minutes than he normally gets.”
– On the Kings tilting the ice their way in the third period: ” Well, it was a tight game going into the third, right? Their team played last night, so you’re hoping to have a little bit more than they do. It’s simple. With the schedule as such, and you hear other teams talking about it, back-to-backs are hard on the guys that played the night before.”
– On if there is a rule where you are allowed to decline a penalty shot and take a power play: “I don’t know, but I could make it up and say I don’t know. No you can’t decline a penalty shot. You can’t do that, can you? It’s funny, I told Brownie this morning – because we were watching shootouts – I told Brownie, if you get the chance, go in there and fake forehand, go backhand on him. As usual, players don’t listen to the coach. He went in, faked his backhand, and went to his forehand.”
– On whether better goaltending or defense was the difference between tonight and the last game vs Anaheim: “Clearly both. But in that game also, we chased the lead – everybody forgets about it. We didn’t give up seven, we gave up six because the one was an empty net, right? We came from two-nothing down, we tied 2-2. We made it 4-4, right? The difference in the game wasn’t that dramatic of a difference in the two teams.”
– On this being a measuring stick win: “There’s no measuring sticks in a 48-game schedule when yoo play as much as there is going on here. There’s no measuring stick. It’s just every game just park and ride right? Pay the toll. Get in the fast lane.”
– On if he looks at the standings: “Absolutely. Shorter season, math tightens up. There’s going to be eight teams that make it and seven that don’t.”
– On being in the eighth spot: “Is that where we are now? That’s good. We’ll see. The other afternoon we were locked tight; we were in it. By the time I got home and got my jammies on we were out of it.”
– On at least enjoying it tonight: “Not really. Before the game was over I was thinking about Detroit. Gaurantee they were sitting up there watching us.”
– On Penner being in a reflective mood tonight: “Reflective? Good.”
– On Penner saying he wants to appreciate his time in the game more and he really understands the mental part of the game: “God…Good. How old is he? 29?”
– On seeing any difference in Penner since he was a healthy scratch: “Yeah, he’s playing. He gets to play. So we’ll make the decision for the next game again.”
– On any given night any team can win regardless of record: “That’s what salary cap did, right? Made everyone equal. That’s why you’ve had seven different champions. Teams that make it, teams that don’t make it. Clearly, there’s parity in the league. It used to be top guys, bottom guys. Now everybody is the same. Now there’s no out of conference play. So it’s fifteen teams right? The three teams that had great starts are teams that are fifteen points ahead of everybody.”
– On when he’ll decide who will start in net on Wednesday: “Probably Tuesday night. No, is it Wednesday we play? Yeah? Yeah Tuesday night.”
– On Alec Martinez’s progress: “No. He’s on injured reserve. Remember the deal? When they come off injured reserve, then you’ll know the update. Active, non-roster, inactive, injured, hurt, sick, not dressed, healthy scratch, on waivers.”
– On if he’s any closer to coming off injured reserve: “When he’s off then he’s off.”
RELATED ARTICLE: Jonathan Quick says redemption vs. Anaheim wasn’t on his mind
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THE BEST READ EVER!!! DARYL SUTTER SHOULD GET A PULITZER ON THIS ONE!!LOL!!
Wow, Being on ‘Injured Reserve’ is kinda spooky. It’s like you go into another dimension, nobody knows where you are or are you okay. It’s like the Twilight Zone episode Little Girl Lost……((( ALEC ARE YOU OUT THERE!!! ))) ((( WE ARE GOING TO SEND HANK IN THERE TO FIND YOU! ))) 🙂
best quote from Darryl was when he was asked if he and the Kings have a Stanley Cup hangover: “Well, I know what a hangover is. …and I didn’t have one.”
I agree, GREAT ONE !! #SUTTERISM
Sly sutter. This was their best game. Quick held them in in the second but that’s not such a bad thing, youre not supposed to dominate 60min in this league.
Dustin danger brown scored yet again. I think that’s his best game, danger. Create dangerous hits, passing lanes/shooting lanes, let kopi and willy thrown you the puck and have a scorers mentality.
Going into the 3rd tied, what a playoff atmosphere, what a way to prove you’re still the champs. Muzzin made such a nice play. Way to take what the D is giving you, and shoot SHORT SIDE! Shooting against the grain is probably a better angle and shot, but going far side means youre shooting across everyone infront of the net.
Richards line took them out of the game the next shift. They stopped taking the body and pushed the puck up the wall constantly, while not the best idea the surprise of that left the ducks swimming.