In Game 2 of the Eastern Conference road trip for six games in the middle of this week, the Los Angeles Kings (8-5-4) continued to win big contests and pick up critical points in the standings in the Pacific Division this fall. Jim Hiller and the Kings have now won four straight games and picked up points in eight straight on the road early this regular season in the West.
The woes for the Montreal Canadiens against Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings continue this week
The Montreal Canadiens (10-4-2) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the game's first period on the scoreboard yesterday. But the Kings responded quickly with a couple of goals from Quinton Byfield and defenseman Joel Edmundson from the blue line to get a lead on the scoreboard before intermission before the second period last evening.
After the Habs jumped out to the early 1-0 lead, the Kings really took control of the game on the ice and on the stat sheet, scoring the contest's final five goals, including a couple of insurance markers in the final frame in the third period.
This was another impressive winning performance on the road in these long road trips this fall for Hiller and the Kings staff this season. The Kings are back in the top two spots in the Pacific Division standings this fall after Game 2 of this road trip north of the border in the Eastern Conference this fall.
Hiller spoke to the media after the Kings' convincing four-goal win over Montreal to win the team's fourth straight game on the road and the second in this six-game road trip in the middle of this week.
Hiller and the Kings have been one of the league's best teams on the road in the NHL early this regular season, tying for a league-best seven road wins this fall.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' dominant 5-1 win over the Habs in Montreal on the road on Nov. 11.
Jim Hiller
On the Kings converting offensively, putting the puck in the net vs. Montreal last night
"I thought we played a good first period. The three versus five kill was really important, but I thought we had our legs, we forechecked, we felt pretty good about the period, so to come out down one was disappointing. We did a good job not to overreact and just understand we were playing well, just to come out and do it again."
On the impact Quinton Byfield had on the game yesterday
"He was due. That line, they were they were on it offensively. They were on it in Pittsburgh. Obviously, Kevin had a great game, so it’s good. He needed one, and where did he get it from? He ended up right in front of the net by the time he scored."
On getting more gritty goals around the net vs. Montreal
"During our home stretch, I thought we did a really good job in the o-zone, we talked about 90 attempts against Jersey, came up short, Pittsburgh, I didn’t like us, and then now, I thought we were back on it. That’s how we have to play. We’ve got to frustrate you, counter-punch off the rush and then make it hard in the o-zone."
On the Kings locking in to seal the win late in the third period
"We wanted to push, we wanted to do a little bit more, but they kicked it back and so once they kicked it back, we came back and there was a lot of standing through the neutral zone and clogging it. We just did what we had to do."
On Joel Armia scoring against his former team in Montreal
"I was really happy for him. He clearly has some great friends here, very well respected player, I thought the fans gave him a tremendous ovation. Sometimes you move on, that’s just the way the game is, so I was just happy for him to get that."
On how the third line played after moving Warren Foegele back on the line with Philip Danault and Trevor Moore
"I thought Danault, Moore and Foegele were a really important line for us last year and kind of hadn’t found the chemistry and injuries and I thought they were a really important part of the game tonight, especially in the second half."
On containing the Canadiens' speed and skill in the win last night
"They're dangerous. I can tell you that. Every time they came through. I know we broke some up, but it felt like they could have popped one at any time. But we knew that they're a tremendous rush team and that we're going to have to be above them because if you give them numbers, they were going to hurt us. So, I thought our guys were very committed."
On Joel Edmundson's goal in the first period
"We're looking for one of those, aren't we? What a shot. We know we saw him. I think he had what, four of those last year, off the faceoffs. Nice to see. That was a great shot."