There was a big-time response in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division yesterday night from the Los Angeles Kings (13-8-7) and Jim Hiller at Crypto.com Arena at home vs. the Chicago Blackhawks (12-10-6) on Dec. 6. The Kings looked much better yesterday night in the second of back-to-back games against the Blackhawks from Chicago.
Well-timed offensive outburst for six goals gives Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings a huge shutout win vs. Chicago at home
Yesterday was a mauling by Hiller and the Kings, beating the Blackhawks 6-0 in a shutout win in the game's final two periods in the final 40 minutes on home ice. Defenseman Brandt Clarke and forward Alex Turcotte both registered at least a couple of points on the stat sheet for the Kings in the dominant shutout win yesterday.
Hiller gave his thoughts to the media after the Kings' offensive outburst in a 6-0 shutout victory over Chicago at home yesterday night.
Last night was the first time this fall this regular season that the Kings scored six goals in a win on home ice at Crypto.com Arena for the team.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' 6-0 mauling in a shutout of the Blackhawks at Crypto Arena at home on Dec. 6.
Jim Hiller
On the Kings' offensive outburst in the game's final two periods yesterday
"When we scored our second goal, something changed. I think it felt like at least the players, every one of them, went 10 pounds lighter, and we were just quicker and more fluid. And you guys watched it too. We had talked about holding sticks really tight. I think we saw the example of them loosening up."
On the adjustments the Kings made to play physically in the final 40 minutes yesterday
"I thought we were more physical on their defensemen in the final two periods. They're pretty evasive. They make plays, and I think we were swinging away from them. I think second and third, we went straight to them and and and knocked them off the puck a little bit more. Our guys did a better job of that."
On what this win means for the team on home ice
"This morning we talked a lot about it, this team, since I’ve been here, we haven’t had a lot of poor performances, but when we have, we’ve seemed to bounce back pretty well. And I thought this was going to be a real test today and it was very clear. You could tell by the intensity in the room for us prior to going out for the game, the players were dialed in. They were ready to play."
On every line from the forward group and the blue line to contribute to the goal scoring for the Kings
"When you’re not scoring a lot, it’s great to score like this, but it’s also great to have it spread out. I think somebody told me 12 or 13 players were on the scoresheet offensively tonight. So, not just goals, but assists. So you’d like to see everybody get on there if you could, but it’s a really good night for us. And you know, Byfield hit the crossbar, Edmundson had one and Moore had one too. So there were other opportunities."
On the Kings getting scoring support from other players outside of the top-six forward group
"We will take it from anybody, but it’s nice to have it all the way through the lineup. You had Perry on Clarke’s goal. Perry set the screen so you don’t get an assist. Well, my in mind that’s an assist all day long and it’s got a higher value than many assists. So you have that. You have Kuzmenko on the power play, and you have Turcotte. I was just told that was Turc’s first goal in Crypto. So, big night for him. That’s pretty cool. He’s scored goals obviously, and played well to get one at home, which makes us happy."
On getting the power play going on special teams vs. Chicago
"No matter what way we scored the second goal it would have been similar. But, I think the fact that it was power play, that it was Kuzmenko who was so good for us on the power play last year and hadn’t scored in a while, I think those factors definitely weighed into it."
On the power play goal on special teams that Andrei Kuzmenko scored for the Kings yesterday
"We’ve had him and others kind of all over the place, as you know, through the stretch that we really struggled so bad. That’s his spot and I think he was happy to get back down there. He made the great play to Kopi when he didn’t score earlier and we saw that last year too. So get the puck into his hands, give him the trust and the confidence to try and do his thing."