Flyers’ forwards Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn made their returns to MayorsManor on Friday, after a few year absence since being dealt by the Kings to Philadelphia in the Mike Richards trade. Following up on those pre-game comments, here’s what both players had to say after shutting out LA 2-0 on Saturday afternoon…
Simmonds on his goal:
“G made a great play on picking off the pass there and driving the net. He hit Vinny, and I was backdoor. Quickie likes to challenge a lot, so he was out. Got the puck, I knew I had a lot of time. I just put it in an empty net. They made a great play.”
Simmonds on the Flyer’s passing:
“I think the second goal was just good work in the corner. Pops out to Hartsy and Hartsy has G backdoor and G doesn’t miss too many of those. He put it in the back of the net, that sealed it for us. I think that was huge, we needed to get a goal on that power play, for sure.”
Simmonds on the game’s slow start:
“We were trying to get pucks deep. They’re a great defensive team, obviously. We kept chipping away, kepy chipping away, and we came out on the better side.”
Simmonds on scoring his 100th goal:
“I think I’ve been sitting on 99 for probably the last five games. So if felt good to get, for sure.”
Simmonds on what has enabled him to be consistent this season:
“I don’t know. I think I’ve been playing with great line mates, obviously. I’ve been really determined this year, you know? I just try to keep going no matter what. If I have a bad shift before, I just try to put it in the back of my mind and keep pushing forward.”
Simmonds on if he talked to any of the Kings prior to the game:
“I actually saw some of the guys yesterday, so it was nice. I saw some of the guys on the training staff as well. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a lot of the faces there. It was nice to talk to them.”
Simmonds on the Kings willingness to talk to him:
“Yeah, I don’t think I was too hated on the team. Luckily I got to talk to a lot of the guys and hang out. It was nice seeing familiar faces again.”
Simmonds on putting a little extra on his goal celebration:
“Well, it was my 100th goal. So I’ve been waiting for that one for a while. I got my first one here and my 100th one in this building. That’s pretty nice.”
Simmonds on if Drew Doughty was chirping at him during the game:
“Oh yeah, we were chirping each other all game. Skating behind me, sticking me a little bit. It’s all in the fun of the game.”
Simmonds on if he used any of the good chirps he told us he had saved up for Doughty:
“Honestly, I didn’t really unload any of it. I call him donuts, a little couple inside jokes we used to have. A couple jabs. He was chirping me as well. Like I said before, everything is in the game- there’s no friends when you lace up the skates and you get on the ice. After the game, we can do all the joking we want, but when we’re playing the game it’s serious.”
Simmonds on if Trevor Lewis’ chirping has improved:
“No, not really. Lewey is a quiet guy. He shows what he’s worth on the ice. He goes out there and battles his butt off every shift. He’s not too vocal out there, but he definitely plays his butt off.”
Simmonds on leaving the Kings:
“I think it was a little bit difficult, obviously not knowing anything else in the NHL. The Kings gave me an opportunity to play in this league, and I’m forever grateful for that. Once you get traded, you know it’s a business. Immediately you have to try and forget about it. I bleed orange now, I’m a Flyer. I gave my heart to the Kings and now my heart is with the Flyers. That’s the way it’s going to be.”
Simmonds on if he thought his goal would be enough to win the game:
“I don’t think about it that way. It was nice to see. Mason played unbelievable for us tonight, I think. They peppered Mason with a lot of shots, they got some quality opportunities. Mason’s been great for us all year and he stood in there tall for us tonight.”
Brayden schenn on how he felt being back in LA:
“Early on maybe a little jitters. It was kind of weird seeing guys you played a little bit of hockey games with. It’s nice to go out there and beat them. It makes the win a little extra special. Our team was desperate tonight and I think we showed that.”
Schenn on Wayne Simmonds’ goal celebration and him looking for his own goal:
“I was trying. There wasn’t much room out there. The Kings play a tight-checking game. They’re good from the goalie, out. You try to bury on your chances. Tonight I had a couple chances there and wasn’t able to bury it. For his goal celebration, I’ve seen that one before. He gets excited, but I think he was a little more excited scoring against his former team. It was his 100th career goal for him. It was a pretty special night for him- he beat the Kings and got his 100th.”
Schenn on if anyone was chirping at him:
“No, nothing. Nothing for me really. Simmer was getting into it a little bit, friendly chirps and stuff like that. That’s the kind of player he is, he’s intense and it gets him in the game. Obviously he had a solid game for us tonight.”
Schenn on what he has learned from Ian Laperriere:
“He’s always teaching, which is good. As a young guy, you always want to learn. He’s been great for us, he’s been positive. Even when you does something wrong, he tells you in a positive way. That’s good, that’s what you want to get from your assistant coach. Someone to go up to and talk to if things aren’t going your way, and he’s that guy. Obviously everyone enjoys having him around and he’s been great for the team.”
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