Head coach Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (1-3-2) came up just short of completing a four-goal comeback effort on the scoreboard on Saturday night (Oct. 18) against Rod Brind'Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes (5-0-0) at home.
A lack of possession in overtime keeps the Los Angeles Kings and Jim Hiller from completing the overtime comeback vs. Carolina
An early 3-0 deficit on the scoreboard early in the middle frame in the second period was a daunting task for the Kings to come back from against the only remaining undefeated team in the NHL in Carolina. The Kings rattled off three straight goals, including a nice early-third period tally from Kevin Fiala for his fourth of the season to tie things up on the scoreboard in the final frame.
Hiller gave his thoughts on the loss to the Canes and how the team played following the tough 4-3 overtime defeat vs. Carolina last night.
The Kings and Hiller weren't able to complete the comeback effort. But it's clear that the team never gave up on him down the stretch late, scoring three straight goals to make the comeback on the scoreboard and push the team to overtime against the Hurricanes last night.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' narrow 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes at Crytpo Arena on Oct. 18.
Jim Hiller
On the Kings' inconsistent efforts for 60 minutes on the ice this season
"You guys have watched the Carolina Hurricanes. They start better than anybody in National Hockey League, very consistent. They come at you with a pace that you can’t work your way into and it shouldn’t have surprised us, let’s put it that way. That’s the most disappointing part of the game. We got going, we got competitive but we weren’t ready to play at the pace they were ready to play at and they’re known for that."
On the lapse in defensive coverage in the Hurricanes' first two goals in the first period
"The first one is the biggest one, because you start the game for a reason, you get to start, try to win the faceoff, try to build some momentum. It’s exactly what they did. So that one, that one hurts, that’s on the five guys who were on the ice."
On the Moore-Danault-Foegele line
"Let me just start with Phil, because I thought it’s one of the best games I’ve seen him play, to be honest with you. I’ll take that back my whole time I’ve been here, he was extremely competitive on faceoffs. We had a tough night in the circle. If you look at some of those stats, he was extremely competitive. It was penalty kill, and it was 5-on-5 against Aho’s line.
To me, it starts a lot of times with the centerman. He’s got a pretty big role on the line and then Mooresie and Foegs, who were, I thought, really good last game with Turc, they just kind of kept up and kept their engine going, and then I thought Phil really drove the line."
On Anton Forsberg rebounding for his play in the net last night vs. Carolina
"It’s a bounce back game for him, for sure, he didn’t like the game against Pittsburgh. So, how do you respond? It’s just like the team, how are you going to respond and that’s a really good sign. I know his career here with the Kings is early, new teammates, it’s just a really good way to show your character."
On the Kings playing up and down to the opponent each game this season
"I think the encouraging part is we haven’t given up. People get on us for not being able to score goals. We’ve come back and scored multiple goals, but there’s no question we just have to be better."
On the adjustments made to the Fiala-Byfield-Kempe line
"Well, we were down, we didn’t have a lot going on, I didn’t think. I’ve had it in my mind and I would keep it in my mind once Kopi went out, for sure. We didn’t want to start that way, see how things settled, but we got into a situation where we needed a spark and when I say we, maybe some of those players needed a spark too, the individual players. I thought they scored the tying goal, it was a big goal. They got checked pretty hard by Staal when they could, so they were fine. I thought the big part was the goal they scored and how they came through for us."