The points keep on coming in for Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (22-16-13) in this past couple of weeks in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division since mid-January this month. The Kings need more points in the standings in the West to challenge for a spot in the playoffs this upcoming spring in the Pacific Division.
Timely goals and clutch defensive play in net gives Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings a huge multi-goal win over the Detroit Red Wings early this week
The Kings were looking for a big two points to the record yesterday on the road vs. the Detroit Red Wings (32-17-5) in this long East road trip early this week on Tuesday afternoon (Jan. 27). A hard-fought win and timely goals offensively from Andrei Kuzmenko and Sammy Helenius helped the Kings defeat a red-hot Red Wings team on the road in Detroit in regulation yesterday night.
Hiller gave his reaction to the media yesterday after the hard-fought and momentum-building regulation 3-1 win in the East on the road vs. Detroit.
The Kings and Hiller have won three consecutive games in the standings in the West early this week, and have points in the last six consecutive games in the last couple of weeks.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' impressive 3-1 regulation win on the road in Detroit on Jan. 27 vs. the Red Wings.
Jim Hiller
On how the Kings played a complete 60-minute effort yesterday vs. Detroit
"You don’t like the last six minutes or so, because we were on our heels again, but prior to that, I really liked it. I think the first five minutes of the first period, you could see we had our legs, rolling four lines, getting good contributions out of everybody. I thought we moved the puck pretty well tonight, too."
On the goal the Kings scored on special teams on the power play
"We entered pretty well. We had some time and space, we were more direct with the puck on the power play and then we haven’t had a lot of those this year, where you’re looking at it and you’re saying that’s high level of execution on Kuzy’s goal. We needed it. Really, really good to see. That was probably the most important goal of the game."
On how good the fourth line is playing for the Kings offensively
"They’re really building something for the three of them. I think they’re becoming a hit with our team. The guys are really appreciating what they’re doing. We’re leaning on them, they’re scoring pretty consistently but better than that, they’re in there on the forecheck, they’re hard on pucks, they don’t spend a lot of time in the d-zone. It’s been a real boost for us. They really have an identity and I think it’s helping to drive the whole team forward."
On how Warren Foegele played in his return to the lineup yesterday
"That’s how Foegs plays. We saw it, he was around the net, he wasn’t shooting from distance, he was around the net, he jammed a couple, did a nice job on the penalty kill. That’s all he’s got to do. He’s got a long track record in the league, and he’s a good player. It’s never great to sit out, but sometimes we all need a kick in the butt, and typically, we respond."
On starting Anton Forsberg yesterday vs. Detroit
"We had a schedule of how it was going to go, so the fact that one got canceled, we just didn’t like how this was a scheduled start for Forsy, and if we pulled it, then there’s some different things that have to happen. Bucks talked to both the goaltenders and said that we saw we had it for this reason, we’re going to keep it the way we’re going and make sure that we’re not overplaying Kuemps."
On how well Joel Armia played at the center position
"He does. We seem to talk about him every second game. Just the the different things that he does. Our penalty kill has been better since him and Morsy have been back, too. That's a that's an important part of his game. It's a hard transition. You can always get over to the wing, but him and Laf both, that's a hard transition. You got to have some real hockey sense and defensive awareness. You got to be committed to play down low.
And those three things, you can say, 'wow, that's pretty easy'. It's not the combination of all three. He's been able to do about anything we've asked of him."