Postgame comments from LA Kings forward Adrian Kempe following Saturday’s 4-3 OT loss to the visiting Minnesota Wild…
Kempe on the first goal of the game, and if he thought he had scored it originally
I saw we were both there and the puck was on the line. I think we both got pushed from the d-man. I had the stick and I was just celebrating for the goal. The net went off so we’re just hoping for it to be allowed. That’s something we can bring with us, the offense was better today. I think we created more off the forecheck. That’s good and we gotta take the positive things with us and move on to the next game.
On the team potentially being too passive in the third period
I don’t think we sat back too much. We wanted to learn from last game. I think we brought the puck back a little bit too often in the third and that made us let in some goals there at the end, but I think today was a we didn’t bring the pucks back. We knew that they we’re gonna come hard, take some risks and we still have some chances to score but unfortunately, they came back and in the third. I think we did a better job than the last game in the third period for sure.
On his and Austin Wagner’s speed being an offensive weapon
I think from last year, you saw that and I think we both can create a lot of offense with our speed. When I have it, I try to look for him and the other way. We had some chances today, could have had a couple more than we did, just gotta build on it.
On any chemistry he’s developing with Gabe Vilardi
Gabe has been great since he came up here, you saw that at the end of last season. He was very good. I’m trying to get some chemistry going with him as well, start to talk on and off the ice. He’s a smart player, really good hands and everything, so I’m just trying to help him as much as I can with my speed. [Austin Wagner] has a lot of speed as well. Gabe is a good player and I think we can build on this chemistry that we have going on.
On his thoughts on the two-game sets against opposing teams
I think it’s good. It was a tough game last game and we came in with the same mentality this game that they’re gonna come on hard. They have a good team. It’s exciting, we’re gonna play them a lot more and we definitely have one game up on them when we go to [Minnesota] so it’s nice we still have a couple more games against them.
Postgame Notes, per LA Kings PR
— The Kings were perfect on the penalty kill for the second-straight night, going 5-for-5. They are 11-for-11 on the season.
— Andreas Athanasiou (1-0=1) scored tonight’s third goal, giving him goals in consecutive contests. The last time he scored in back-to-back contests was Nov. 10-12, 2019 with DET (2-0=2).
— Jeff Carter (0-2=2) tallied two assists tonight, giving him points in back-to-back contests (1-3=4).
— Gabriel Vilardi (1-0=1) scored his first goal of the season tonight.
— Blake Lizotte (1-0=1) scored his first goal of the season.
— Drew Doughty (0-1=1) notched his first point of the season with an assist on Lizotte’s goal.
— Austin Wagner (0-1=1) recorded his first point of the season with an assist on Vilardi’s tally.
— Kurtis MacDermid (0-1=1) tallied an assist in his first game of the season tonight.
RELATED CONTENT:
Note to webmasters/reporters: When recapping news or interviews from this site please remember to include a link to www.MayorsManor.com
Lead photo via LA Kings / Getty Images
