Interim head coach DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings wanted to get a win in the postseason in the playoffs on the scoreboard on Tuesday night (April 21) early this week vs. the Colorado Avalanche on the road in the West. There was a chance for the Kings and Smith to steal home-ice advantage on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena late this week in the postseason in the playoffs in the West.
DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings are behind in the series in the West in Game 3 vs. the Colorado Avalanche late this week
The Kings and Avalanche played a game with a ton of entertainment value on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday, especially in clutch time in the final frame in the third period. Even though the Avs were heavily favored in the pregame betting odds coming into the game yesterday, the Kings and Smith pushed them until the very end of the game on the scoreboard.
But Smith and the Kings' coaching staff have continued to struggle to score goals on the ice this past regular season in this past few months in the West. The only two goals the Kings have scored on the scoreboard in this past couple of games in the postseason in the playoffs were from forward Artemi Panarin.
Smith gave his reactions to the media yesterday after the Kings' 2-1 overtime loss in the extra time on Tuesday night in Game 2 against Colorado in the postseason in the playoffs on the road.
The path forward this postseason in the playoffs in the West for Smith and the Kings' coaching staff is really bleak after the loss in the extra frame in overtime vs. Colorado yesterday.
Here's a look at everything Smith said to the media postgame following the Kings' crushing 2-1 overtime loss in the extra frame vs. Colorado in Game 2 on April 21 in the West.
DJ Smith
On the Kings falling behind in the series in the West early this week by a mark of 0-2
"We’ve played two good games, tonight better than the first. We had every opportunity. We got a lead with three and whatever to go and you’ve got to be able to close it out."
On the impact Artemi Panarin had on the Kings in this series vs. Colorado this past week
"He gives us every opportunity every night. He can make plays, certainly, on the power play. And when he gets a clean look, he puts it away. That's what you need this time of year."
On how physical the fourth-line forward group played up front and the confidence they showed
"To a man, we’re playing hard. We hoped to be split here, but regardless, we’re going to have to win at home. The fourth line was really good today. They’re physical, they stayed within the rules, they had scoring chances. We’re going to need them. For us to win this series, we’ve got to play everybody and I thought they were good tonight."
On how the Kings can translate this play and confidence into more wins this series in the posteason in the playoffs in the West
"We did play really well, and we’ll get last change. We can get our matchups a little bit better, and we’re going to have to roll four lines over and be physical again. We’ve got to find a way to win a game. Clearly, good isn’t enough. We’ve got to win a game and keep taking a piece of them, and keep playing physical, but within the rules, and give ourselves a chance to keep lengthening the series."
On the Kings' lack of goal scoring offensively in the zone vs. Colorado
"We had some good looks. We had some guys that were in alone. I thought we really had the momentum in overtime; we were outchanging them at that point. Then, maybe a bad bounce, or a turnover, whatever, it ends up in your net. This team is playing hard, and we got to find a way to win, though. Yeah, they’re a good team, but we’ve just got to do what we do. I expect us to play two good games here, and I expect that we’ll be better at home."
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