In the final frame and the middle frame in the second period on Saturday evening (March 14), the Los Angeles Kings (27-24-15) and center captain Anze Kopitar fought until the final whistle on the scoreboard vs. the New Jersey Devils (33-31-2) on the road this weekend. The Kings and new interim head coach DJ Smith pushed back twice on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday in an eventual 6-4 loss on the road to the Devils in New Jersey this weekend on Saturday.
DJ Smith and the Los Angeles Kings fall to the Devils 6-4 on the road on Saturday
The Kings and Smith still had a historic night on the ice yesterday, with Kopitar tying and then breaking the all-time record for career points in franchise history for LA. Kopitar scored a couple of goals that helped the Kings tie the game up on the scoreboard twice in the middle frame in the second period and in the final frame in the third period yesterday.
Smith gave his thoughts to the media yesterday after the Kings' 6-4 loss on the road to the Devils in New Jersey at the Prudential Center after a couple of rallies on the scoreboard.
The Kings and Smith tied the game up on the scoreboard two separate times in the middle frame in the second period and in the final frame yesterday vs. the Devils on the road.
Here's a look at everything Smith said to the media postgame following the Kings' 6-4 road loss to the Devils in the back end of back-to-back games in New Jersey on March 14.
DJ Smith
On the Kings coming away from a competitive game yesterday on the scoreboard with zero points in the standings
"Yeah, 100 percent. At the end of the day, we’ve got to get that one to overtime, probably. Two bad penalties in the third period. With the game on the line, you’ve got to manage it. We found ways to come back, and we battled, but they scored the first shift of the third period. We gave them too many chances."
On Anze Kopitar setting the record for all-time career points in Kings' franchise history yesterday vs. the Devils on the road
"That’s outstanding. He’s been unbelievable, and he continues to be one of our best players, every single night, right now. And that’s very disappointing that we can’t get it across the line tonight.
Back to back, we’re in a real good spot going into the third period, and that’s a time where you’ve got to take the reins and make simple plays. We didn’t do that. At the end of the day, I think every guy in that room knows where we want to go, and we’ve got to push and give ourselves a win."
On how momentum flipped so many times in the game yesterday vs. New Jersey for the Kings
"I didn’t think we were competitive enough in the first period, to be honest. Second period, we were great, we played the way we’ve got to play. In the third period, we were fine, it’s just we took two penalties, they scored on both."
On Artemi Panarin's return to Madison Square Garden on Monday this upcoming week vs. his former team in New York
"I'm excited for him, but we need the points. Once that puck drops, we need the points. The accolades and all those things are great, but at the end of the day, I think every guy in that room knows where we want to go, and we got to push and get ourselves a win."