A five-game road trip ended ceremoniously for new interim head coach DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-15) early this week in the tri-state area on Monday evening (March 16) against the New York Rangers (28-31-8) in the Eastern Conference. This win for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff early this week on Monday evening over the Rangers at Madison Square Garden on the road in the tri-state area ended New York's four-game winning streak this regular season.
Alex Laferriere stars for the Los Angeles Kings in a big 4-1 win on the road over the Rangers to cap the road trip in the East in New York at MSG
In Artemi Panarin's return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since the trade to the Kings this past month and before the trade deadline was a success for Smith's squad on the ice and on the scoreboard early this week on Monday. The Kings played energetic and confident on both ends of the ice and in goal yesterday vs. the Rangers on the road in the tri-state area.
The Kings jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period and never looked back. After getting the 1-0 edge on the scoreboard early in the game in the opening frame in the first period yesterday in New York, the Kings never had less than a one-goal lead for the rest of the game on the ice.
Here are two studs, and one dud, from the Kings commanding 4-1 win on the road over the Rangers in New York at Madison Square Garden on March 16.
Stud: Alex Laferriere, F
The Kings set the tone on the ice and on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period, starting off the period right offensively in the zone with a goal from defenseman Mikey Anderson, which was set up by forward Alex Laferriere and Quinton Byfield. Anderson buried a rebound on an odd-man rush led by Laferriere and Byfield in the zone offensively for the Kings.
Under 30 seconds later, the Kings extended the lead on the scoreboard to a comfortable 3-0 margin in the middle frame in the second period yesterday. Laferriere batted a puck out of mid-air at the side of the net in front of Igor Shesterkin vs. the Rangers yesterday.
"They’re arguably as fast and work as hard as any line in the league. They can play against anyone and they can also make you pay. With Juice out, it hurts, because I was using one of those guys periodically with Kopi, but the contribution from both those guys [was good]. Say what you want, but I think Kopi continues to be one of, if not our best player every single night here, over the last little bit. "DJ Smith
The win was sealed for the Kings on the scoreboard in the final frame in the third period when winger Trevor Moore extended the lead to a convincing 4-1 margin yesterday against the Rangers in New York at MSG. Laferriere also assisted on the Kings' last goal to seal the win in the final frame in the third period yesterday vs. the Rangers.
Dud: Alex Turcotte, C
Center Alex Turcotte returned to the active roster lineup offensively for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff yesterday vs. New York on the road against the Rangers. Turcotte was available for the Kings in the active roster lineup, while the team was missing forward Adrian Kempe after warming up vs. the Rangers yesterday on the ice.
Turcotte was the only Kings' player for Smith and the LA coaching staff yesterday on the ice who didn't play over 10 minutes at even strength at 5-on-5 (per Natural Stat Trick).
Stud: Mikey Anderson, D
The Kings needed some other players in the active roster lineup to step up yesterday on the blue line on defense. Anderson gave the Kings a spark offensively from the blue line yesterday on the ice that helped them get a 1-0 lead on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period on the goal from Doughty early in the game.
I thought the Kings played great in front of Darcy Kuemper yesterday for the likes of Anderson, defenseman Drew Doughty, and Brian Dumoulin. The only goal the Rangers scored yesterday offensively in the zone was a tip-in goal that was tough for Kuemper to see through the traffic.
Anderson had his second multi-point performance of this past couple of weeks in March this month in the West for the Kings on the blue line on defense.