The ups and downs of this regular season in the West in the Pacific Division for new interim head coach DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings (30-26-18) was realized in a big 2-1 overtime win on Wednesday night in the extra time vs. the St. Louis Blues (31-31-12). The Kings got off to a slow start on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday vs. the Blues on home ice.
Trevor Moore gives DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings an important win on home ice vs. St. Louis on Wednesday night this week
Adrian Kempe lit the lamp for the first time on the scoreboard yesterday in the middle frame in the second period on special teams on the power play for the Kings to give them the lead before the second intermission vs. St. Louis on home ice.
Smith and the Kings managed to get two points in the standings yesterday after winger Trevor Moore made a nice play coming down the wing in the extra frame in overtime to give LA the 2-1 win on the scoreboard yesterday vs. St. Louis.
Smith gave his thoughts to the media yesterday after the clutch 2-1 win on the scoreboard in extra time in overtime for the Kings vs. the Blues at home in the front end of back-to-back games.
The win over the Blues yesterday moved the Kings into one of the wildcard spots in the standings in the West this regular season down the stretch in overtime.
Here's a look at everything Smith said to the media postgame following the Kings' resilient 2-1 overtime win over the Blues in the extra frame on home ice at Crypto.com Arena on April 1.
DJ Smith
On Trevor Moore scoring the game-winning goal in overtime vs. St. Louis yesterday
"I think Mooresie is such a reliable player for us, he always gives you an honest effort. He’s team first. He never complains. In today’s game, a guy misses a shift or doesn’t get an o-zone draw, there’s guys that dwell on those things. Mooresie is complete team, always is. I think over this last little bit, he’s been as good as anybody. He’s dangerous, he’s scoring, as you can see, that speed is a big difference. I have no problem putting him on the ice at any time in the game."
On the energy the Kings came out with after the opening frame in the first period yesterday
"There has to be a level of urgency at this time of the year, especially in our building. We just haven’t had enough. I didn’t think the first period was indicative of what I think of our hockey team. I thought we were on the outside.
We always play defense, and we try, but that wasn’t enough. If you want to make the playoffs and win games at home on a regular basis, you’ve got to be willing to check and fight for every puck. I didn’t think we did that in the first period. I thought the second and third period, we did that, though."
On if there were any changes to the strategy or aggressiveness on the ice for the Kings in overtime
"It’s big boy time in overtime, and you’ve got to let them make those plays. I think the top players decide when they’re going to shoot and what they’re going to do. Typically, long shots, long passes, don’t work in overtime; that’s when you turn pucks over. We saw that early in overtime, you know. It’s unfortunate that went to overtime. I thought we could have closed it out, we got a bit of a bad bounce."
On the impact Anton Forsberg had on the Kings' win over St. Louis yesterday
"Anton Forsberg works extremely hard away from the rink at all times, takes care of himself, and when the opportunity comes, he’s able to do things like this tonight, and he was exceptional. Especially a couple of those reads there. It’s easy to root for a guy that tries and gives you everything he's got."
On the Kings being able to pull out the clutch win in overtime yesterday
"I think you got to look to the leadership, Kopi, Dewey. These guys have been around a long time. They're not going to get rattled by much. Guys like Eddie and and and some older guys back there. Coach can say so much, but ultimately it's up to the players to have that swagger and to feel that we can play with anyone for whatever reason.
We've had some really unlucky bounces. They throw it in. I think each team probably threw in 30 pucks tonight, and that one finds a way to get in the back of the net. But to stay with it and find a way to win. We got to push now, and here comes a team tomorrow that's playing just as good as they are, just as physical, and just as little room. We got to be ready when that puck drops to do it one more time."
On how the Kings did on special teams on the penalty kill
"Numbers wise, since I took over, the inner slots and the chances against have been really good and the underlying numbers are really good. We’ve had some bad breaks. Shoot it, break a stick, they shoot it, right back to a guy and it goes in. Tonight, they probably win us the game.
Early on, if you give one up, you’re trailing, you play a different game. It’s something we haven’t won a ton of, is special teams and we score on the power play. We don’t want to take three penalties. That’s not what we’re looking for, especially offensive-zone penalties, but I feel confident right now that the guys are doing the job."