Dud: Quinton Byfield, C
Centers Quinton Byfield and Phil Danault missed this past week's first game in the road trip for three games for the Kings in the East against the Dallas Stars on Dec. 15. Younger players got a chance to prove themselves in bigger roles in the top-nine forward core group for Hiller and the Kings on Monday night in Dallas vs. the Stars.
Byfield struggled in the faceoff circle for the Kings in the offensive zone. He lost a couple of faceoffs in the offensive zone in the game's final 10 minutes in the third period in clutch time yesterday.
Before he missed the Kings' road game in the Lone Star State early this past week on Monday night (Dec. 15), Byfield was having difficulty for the team scoring goals in the offensive zone at the center position. Byfield hasn't scored a point for Hiller and the Kings in the past eight games in early-to-mid December this month in the West.
Byfield earned some big chances in the offensive zone yesterday against the Lightning. He registered a high-danger scoring chance at 5-on-5 at even strength and a team-high three scoring chances on the power play on special teams and at even strength yesterday.