A couple of goals from forwards Adrian Kempe and a clutch overtime goal in extra time on a snipe from young center Quinton Byfield got the Los Angeles Kings (23-17-13) and Jim Hiller a clutch two points in the standings in the West on Saturday morning (Jan. 31) vs. the Philadelphia Flyers on the road this weekend.
Los Angeles Kings leave Philadelphia with another win in the East on this road trip for Jim Hiller in overtime, by a score of 3-2
The Kings set the tone offensively early in the game on the scoreboard this morning in the opening frame in the first period, with two quick goals from Kempe and multiple assists from winger veteran Corey Perry. Philly pushed back with two goals early in the second and third periods in the final frame to tie the game up on the scoreboard this morning for the Flyers.
Byfield did what Kings fans have been hoping for from him this regular season in the West, sniping Flyers' goalie Dan Vladar for a nice goal in clutch time in overtime to get the 3-2 win for LA and Hiller today on the road in the East.
Hiller gave his thoughts to the media this afternoon after the big 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers on the road in Philly in the front end of back-to-back games.
The win over the Flyers this morning on the road moves Hiller and the Kings to a solid record of 3-1-0 on this road trip in the Eastern Conference this week.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' clutch 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers on the road in Philadelphia on Saturday (Jan. 31).
Jim Hiller
On his takeaways from the overtime win vs. Philly
"Probably the most important goal of the night was the one that was offside. We started really well, if we could have got that one or kept that one on the board I feel like we’d have been in good shape. You don’t do that, they get some momentum and then had to hang on."
On how the Kings started to lose momentum in the middle frame in the second period vs. Philly
"We started really well, so it’s a blessing and a curse sometimes, because you think, oh, this is going to be easy, what a good night. Then you get on your heels, they start pushing and of course, they’re going to push. In the end, it was probably better that they scored, got even, because it forced us to get moving a little bit more again, which I thought we responded good at that point. Then, a really nice play for the overtime goal."
On Quinton Byfield's game-winning goal he scored in overtime
"You’d say to him, why don’t you always have that shot first mindset? We saw his last couple goals that I can remember, the short side versus Anaheim, same spot this time, he hits the far side. Just really, really good shots. He had one coming down the pipe in the second period, I think he went high and wide. Nice finish, nice goal. Shoot the puck, kid."
On the two goals Adrian Kempe scored today vs. Philly on the road
"That line has been dangerous, I know you mentioned Juice has scored, there’s been some power plays in there too, but I thought they were dangerous, they have been. That’s why, in bringing Kopi back, we didn’t want to disrupt that line, get Kopi a chance to get his legs under him a little bit. I think Perry and Laferriere compliment him well. Laf is skating through the middle, Perrs strong in the o-zone, found him on that on the second goal. Good to see."
On making the lineup adjustments mid-game to move Andrei Kuzmenko and Taylor Ward on the active forward lines group vs. Philly
"I didn’t like the way that one line with Byfield, Kuzmenko and Fiala. It wasn’t anything to do with our fourth line, it was more I did not like the line, how they were playing, the style of the game. These guys were strong, winning puck battles, so we just thought we’d try to balance it just a little bit. I thought both lines were probably better in the end."