Drew Doughty – ‘I want to be considered a leader’

Kings defenseman Drew Doughty had the following to share after the team took their morning skate at Staples Center, in advance of tonight’s Game 3 vs. the Anaheim Ducks…

Here we are at a game day skate and you look like you want to score as much as if it was a game

“I love to score. Practice, not that it’s boring, but it’s so repetitive for everybody that you kind of make your own games within a game. Whether it’s betting someone for a drink or something like that you just try and create competition out there so when we do 2-on-1’s against me I will chirp at the guys before and stuff like that to make them try against me and that helps to make me better. If I’m going 1-on-1 against Quickie he knows I’m going to want to score and he’s going to try and stop me.”

Doughty on the fact that the Kings need to better……

“We didn’t play good enough in Game 2, maybe just good enough to win. We played a good playoff style game but still not where we want to be. We want to be the team that is outshooting the other team and not being outshot and giving up as many opportunities. Putting a few more pucks in the net wouldn’t be bad either. The bigger the cushion, the better chance to win. We’re going to be looking at getting more shots, more goals tonight.”

You would have to think that with the Ducks down two games to none, they will be giving you their best shot tonight……

“Tonight will be their best game of the series there is no doubt about that. They will play very desperate, they will play hungry. We just need to be hungrier and more desperate. Even though we are up 2-0 the series isn’t close to being over. We have a lot of work to do and tonight is where it starts.”

Most challenging part about playing against Getzlaf and Perry?

“They are good players. They are big and smart. They are hungry in the offensive zone. Even if they are coming in with possession or dumping it in and coming with the forecheck they are tough. They have the chemistry together. They know where each other will be on the ice. It’s not easy to play against them. They are two of the best.”

Talk about Perry being a guy who likes to chirp the opposition?

“Part of his game is getting under people’s skin. He plays with his heart on his sleeve. He just goes out and does anything he can to win a game. That’s what you want from your top players. We just don’t let it affect us.”

Does it feel strange to be 24 and considered a veteran defenseman

“I don’t think so. This is my sixth year in the league and I know I am still kind of young. I don’t feel young. I feel older. I have more responsibility on this team. I want to be considered a leader. A guy the younger players look up to. I enjoy being in this position. It sucks being the young guy just kind of being picked on. I am happy to be able to take on this leadership role and help this team win games.”

Morning skate quotes from Alec Martinez, Jake Muzzin, Jarret Stoll, Justin Williams and coach Darryl Sutter have been posted here.