Brown and Toffoli share thoughts on Kings 2-1 series lead

We’ve already posted comments from Jeff Carter, Drew Doughty, Jonathan Toews, and both coaches. Now, enjoy some post-game thoughts from Kings captain Dustin Brown and forward Tyler Toffoli following Game 3 in Los Angeles on Saturday night…

Dustin Brown on the overall game:

“I thought our power play gained us momentum, they were both good but from a penalty kill standpoint we have to stop taking so many penalties because it’s hard work. Two to one series against the defending Stanley Cup Champs, I don’t think there’s taking control of a series. I think that both teams have shown that they are able to battle adversity. This is a team that was down last year and found a way to come back, so we did what we wanted tonight and got the lead in the series. Now it’s about resetting and reloading. We’re up in the series we have to keep going up.”

Brown on why the Kings are leading the series:

“I think we’ve done a better job at checking. Tonight Toews gets two goals which is not what you want, but he’s a great player and he finds the hunger around the net. We need to be more hungry around our own net and around their net, but our neutral zone has gotten a lot better. If you look at a lot of their chances in Game 1, it was coming through the neutral zone with speed and I think we’ve done a better job to the neutral zone and that I think slows down their guys. Toews, Kane, Hossa- you give them open ice in the neutral zone, they’re going to make plays and find the back of the net. I thought we’ve done a better job of getting in their way and clogging up the neutral zone and making them dump the puck. Patrick Kane has dumped the puck probably more in this series that I think I’ve seen him my whole career. That’s what we need more of.”

Brown on his physicality:

“That’s part of my game, and right now, I’m struggling right now. I feel like I’m getting great chances on the offensive side, but at this time of year it’s not about dwelling on what you’re not doing. It’s about what you can do to help the team. Physical- again it’s a seven game series. Their D are very mobile, very good puck-moving defensemen. The more you can chip away at them… everyone talked about Drew in that first series in San Jose how he was getting hit every time. He won’t admit it, but that wears on defensemen. That’s something, especially with this group over there, their D are elite level skaters and puck movers. So the only way to kind of slow them down is to get a bump when you can. That’s part of my job.”

Brown on the intensity:

“The intensity is always there, I thought tonight was more of a grind. Powers plays and the penalty kills, we have guys that do both and so do they. It’s about managing the puck and staying fresh.”

Brown on if he is starting to think that this team can go all the way:

“At this time of year, it’s about your will. Like I said, we won two games. It’s about resetting and reloading. I mean, it’s a two-one series. We’ve done what we wanted to do in Game 3, and now it’s about Game 4. Again, we know who we’re playing and what they are capable of, so it’s about – not that it really is a problem with this group – staying even keel and getting ready to go for Game 4.”

Tyler Toffoli on tonight’s game:

“Getting pucks deep and getting lots of pucks to the net and creating traffic, you can’t score goals unless you get the puck on net and drive to the net. If you look at our goals tonight, it’s cut into our system and we’re executing well right now.”

Toffoli on how he is feeling:

“I’m having fun, this is incredible. Obviously as a young guy, you dream of being in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the past three games have been probably my best three games of the playoffs so you just have to keep playing hard and you want to win, so I’m just trying to help the team.”