For the fifth away game in a row for head coach Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (9-5-4), the team pulled together to find success on the right side of the win column this fall. On Thursday evening (Nov. 13), the Kings found a way to come back in the third period and defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs (8-9-1) on the road at Scotiabank Arena in Ontario.
After being down 2-0 in the middle of the game, the Los Angeles Kings came back to defeat the Maple Leafs in overtime
The Kings looked like the better team on the ice against the Maple Leafs yesterday, and it paid off with Hiller's squad picking up two points in the standings for the third game in a row in this past week on the six-game road trip in the Eastern Conference.
Hiller gave his thoughts and takeaways with the media postgame after the Kings pulled off the overtime comeback win yesterday in Toronto against the Maple Leafs.
This was a big win for the Kings and Hiller to come up with another momentous road win in the first half of this six-game road trip this week in the East vs. Toronto.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' 4-3 overtime win over the Maple Leafs on the road on Nov. 13.
Jim Hiller
On his thoughts from the win over Toronto last night
"I liked how we played. I know we were trailing, but the important part for us is we didn’t get frustrated and start chasing it and giving them chances to go the other way. I think we stayed in our structure, we didn’t give them much, and we just kept throwing it at the net. And eventually, we got one."
On the team staying patient and finally getting paid off at the end
"It’s really important, because you can get frustrated very easily, especially when you’re down and then it’s not going your way. What happens is the D start pinching, the forwards don’t cover and all of a sudden it goes back the other way, they get three and probably the game’s over. So for me, that was an important part of the game, just to maintain good defensive structure and then stick with it. I’m really proud of the team tonight for that."
On how the team has been so successful on the road this fall
"We've played pretty well at home, too. We haven't got a lot of wins. We're playing pretty good hockey, and the goalies are making timely saves. That's always important. I think we've found a little bit of our rhythm and now we're in a good place."
On the play of the fourth line vs. Toronto
"They were really good through 40 minutes. Typically I get into the third period and if we’re trailing, I cut it back and run those guys, but that line was probably our most dangerous line through the third period. It felt like they deserved to be out there at the end. I thought they had a couple setup shifts prior to us scoring, we had some really good chances, spent time in the zone. They definitely earned that opportunity and again, I thought if anybody had a chance to score, it was them."
On Quinton Byfield heating up in goal scoring recently in the past couple of games
"Now we can stop asking the question why he’s not scoring. He got the first one was in and around the net, and this one, he’s out 30 feet and gets the one-timer. Usually, that’s how it goes. You’ve got to get the ugly one first, and then the game opens up for you. In Toronto, I know it’s probably special for him, an OT winner in Toronto."
On Laferriere scoring the goal to tie the game in the third period
"Laf got off to a great start last season, scoring-wise. This year has been a little slower, but his game is really coming on. I really liked his overall game tonight. He was tracking, did a lot of things tonight, so nice to see him get rewarded with the goal."
On Drew Doughty rising to the occasion in big games for the Kings
"He just loves the moment. He lives for the moment. The bigger the stage, the more important the game. When the stage rises and the pressure mounts, that's when he loves to be out there. He showed that tonight."