The effort and confidence that the Los Angeles Kings (28-24-15) and new interim head coach DJ Smith showed in the opening frame in the first period set the tone on the scoreboard and on the ice vs. the New York Rangers (28-31-8) on Monday (March 16). The Kings and Smith jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period vs. the Rangers early this week on the road on Monday.
DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings slow down the Rangers in a 4-1 win at MSG early this week on Monday
Smith and the Kings and the coaching staff did a good job of slowing down the Rangers in the middle frame in the second period on the ice. The Kings snapped a four-game winning streak for the Rangers in New York earlier this week on Monday evening at Madison Square Garden.
Forward Alex Laferriere and defenseman Mikey Anderson starred offensively in the zone for the Kings on the ice and on the stat sheet this past Monday, each posting multi-point games and having at least one goal scored.
Smith gave his thoughts to the media on Monday after the big three-goal win on the scoreboard and on the ice over the Rangers on the road at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Kings and Smith and the coaching staff came away with seven out of a possible 10 points on this road trip this past week.
Here's a look at everything Smith said to the media postgame following the Kings' commanding 4-1 win on the road over the Rangers on March 16.
DJ Smith
On his thoughts from the Kings win over the Rangers at MSG
"I thought really good. First period, pretty even. But a good effort by us. We had chances; we find a way to score. Second period was really good. I think we pressed hard, we were physical, we made it really hard on them. Third period, we didn’t make some of the breakout plays or plays maybe that we wanted to, but we grinded it out.
And we used everybody. I think every player up front got north of 10 minutes, especially what you would call your fourth line. Those guys were really good. All-around, a gutsy effort by the guys at the end of the trip."
On how the Kings came out in the second period after the first intermission vs. New York
"We want to be physical, we want to hit. When defensemen are getting hit, it’s hard for them to make plays. The first period, we didn’t get a ton going. The second period, we got some contact and we were able to keep some pucks alive and we created some chances."
On an Adrian Kempe injury update and Mathieu Joseph
"Just lower body, and I think at this point, it’s day-to-day. We weren’t sure, but he went out for warmups and couldn’t go. Even better, Matty Joseph comes in plays on that line. A bunch of guys rotated around, but he’s a guy that’s played in big games, he’s played in the NHL playoffs, so he’s a good guy for us, that we picked him up and he’s able to help us in games like this."
On how the Kings played in the final frame in the third period vs. New York
"It’s weird how it works. Sometimes, it just of comes natural. They were putting their top two lines every other shift and they were really pushing and sometimes, just the way it goes. We have to do better job there, in saying that, we’ve got to make sure that we’re managing the puck and we still found a way to win."
On how the Kings played in Artemi Panarin's return to MSG vs. the Rangers on Monday
"Right now, we’ve got a group of guys that are really pushing for each other. Some nights, it’s going to require Bread to play 20-something minutes, and the next night, it might be 18 or 19. I think at the end of the trip, it was key to get everyone involved and efforts from everyone. Late in the year like this, guys are tired, we’re going to need efforts from everyone, and I think we got it."
On how he feels about the five-game road trip this past week for the Kings on the ice
"Really good effort. It's hard to say that there was a time where it wasn't a full effort and guys given, you know, not the result we wanted maybe in Jersey, but we win a game in Columbus that could go either way. So, you can't really look back. At the end of the day, seven out of 10 on the road. We got a couple home games and some more road and then and then a bunch at home.
That's something that's a real emphasis for the coaching staff to get us playing better at home. We've been good on the road. We got to bring that nastiness, that physicality to our building. And if you want to come in and get the points in our building, we're going to have to make you pay for it, and be as physical maybe as we were in the second period the entire game at home. And if we can do that, I think we'll start to win some games there."