Postgame comments from LA Kings rookie defenseman Mikey Anderson following Saturday’s 4-3 OT loss to the visiting Minnesota Wild…
Anderson on the pairing with Matt Roy
I think the two of us kind of complement each other well, he’s a very smart player. I like to think both of us are our thinkers out there, we think the game pretty similar. We’ve been able to communicate well which is which has helped us have some success so far together so hopefully we can keep that going. Even coming in getting called up last year he was my partner, he’s a guy that showed me everything, day by day things how we’re going at the rink. He’s teaching me to keep it simple make place quick and then he’s been good for me so far.
On adjusting defending against Kaprill Kaprisov a second time
Yeah, no one no one knew too much about him coming in but he’s a really good player, really skilled. He had a good night against us the other night so today we were aware when he was out there.
I’m just trying to play my game. Shut down whoever I’m out there against and do whatever I can to help in that way.
On using back-to-back third period blown leads as a learning experience
Yeah, definitely. You got to learn how to how to play with the lead, you got to learn how to play in a tight game, play from behind. We’ll also look at what happened the last couple games here giving up too many third period goals, but definitely lean on some of the older guys and try and get better and not have it happen again.
On what he saw while defending a first period two-on-one
I don’t remember the exact play. There’s a lot of skilled players out there, especially on two-on-ones. Trying to make them make a play if they’re gonna beat me they’re gonna have to make a great play. Try to treat it like a two on two, whether we got [Jonathan Quick] or Cal [Peterson] back there, they’re really good and will be able to take a shot if they’re able to shoot one.
On how the team can address playing with a lead in the future
Tonight, we held on the lead a little bit longer, but I think coming into the third period with the two-goal lead, it’s not about sitting back and trying to not give up a goal but still make a push offensively and get in on the forecheck, get pucks out, get pucks in and kind of just go from there not really change much of how the game was going before going into the third.
On conversations before the third period
I think like I just said, it was about keeping the push on, not taking our foot off the gas. If we sit back and go into a shell, we’re kind of just asking for them to start peppering us, giving up you know higher quality chances. It’s trying to stick to what gave us the lead: get pucks in, get on the forecheck, play a heavy game.
On how the addition of Sean Walker and Kurtis MacDermid back into the lineup impacts the d-core
I look at it as, you have your units of two, but we’re a unit of six back there. Whoever we got out there, we’re comfortable. It’s nice having [MacDermid] he brings a different element to the game that I don’t think anyone else in the backend has, so having him on the bench, on the ice, he’s a great guy. Then bringing [Walker] back in, the two of them together, they complement each other well. I think we’re comfortable with whoever [Trent Yawney, Assistant Coach] is throwing out there at any point in the game.
More postgame comments below.
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