With a shootout goal to seal the deal, Gabe Vilardi helped the Kings secure their third win a row.
— Eric (@Kingsgifs) February 19, 2021
After the game, he shared the following comments:
On his game-winning shootout goal, and if there were any nerves taking the shot
No, not really, nerves. It’s better because we shot second, their guy missed, so I knew no pressure at all – just go in there and I had a chance to finish it for the team. I was lucky enough to do that.
On if they would have changed anything in the second period to take control of the game
I think just the first five minutes they were, they scored the two goals early, right away. But after that we played well, actually. No, I don’t think there’s anything in particular. I thought just the first five minutes were bad on our part and they got it going there and they were able to tie up early in the second.
On if the second period, minus the first five minutes, was the defensive style they want to play
Yeah, I think we had some, I think we had a good game honestly. If there’s shots, obviously, we need [Jonathan Quick], we need Cal [Petersen], whoever’s playing. We got, I think we got the best one-two duo goalies in the league, crazy the saves they make, and obviously [Jonathan Quick], was there tonight, he made a couple nasty saves again. I thought we had a good game other than that five minutes they were able to tie it up there.
On if the chemistry is starting to develop with Jeff Carter and Adrian Kempe
They’re both very fast guys, easy to play with, smart guys. We’re good in our d-zone today, just talking. There wasn’t too many o-zone grind shifts, we had that one first period, we end up scoring on it. Ultimately comes down, I’m really like learning a lot I feel, just the importance of face-offs. It’s just so huge, and Todd [McLellan] talks about it and I’m just starting to understand more. I feel like when I’m really good on my draws, we have the puck a lot and we’re able to dominate more, and then tonight, I’m not so good on the draws and we’re chasing it a bit more and it’s crazy how important it is, just the little thing like a face off. I like our line, we got a good thing going, we gotta keep it going though.
On the second intermission discussion to get things back on track
I don’t remember, I don’t think anything too big, just limit the turnovers. in the neutral zone, and other than that I think just keep playing our game and get a win here, which we were lucky enough to do.
On if there was anything he saw from the Coyotes that he did not expect
Not really, first time playing them, I thought they got some good, smaller, skilled forwards that once they get cycling in our zone, they’re good in free play kind of thing, they just really cycle around and they’re all over our d-zone so it’s tough to contain, but we did a good job tonight and got the win.
More postgame comments linked below.
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