The offensive momentum continued building on the ice and on the scoreboard yesterday night (Dec. 8) on the road in the start of a quick two-game homestand early this week for the Los Angeles Kings (14-8-7) in a 4-2 regulation win over the Utah Mammoth (14-14-3).
Road success has given Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings a boost in the standings in the Pacific Division this fall in the past couple of months
Head coach Jim Hiller and the Kings set the tone on the ice and on the scoreboard in the opening frame in the first period early in the game yesterday vs. the Mammoth in Utah. Winger Joel Armia and star forward Adrian Kempe scored a couple of goals to give the Kings a comfortable 2-0 lead on the scoreboard at the end of the opening frame vs. Utah yesterday.
The Mammoth battled back in the game's second and third period yesterday, but Armia sealed the win for Hiller and the Kings with an empty-net goal late in the final frame in Utah.
Hiller gave his takeaways and thoughts to the media after the Kings beat the Mammoth on the road by multiple goals in Utah yesterday night to kick off a short road trip early this week.
The Kings and Hiller have now won double-digit road games early this regular season in the West, after beating the Mammoth by multiple goals yesterday night.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' 4-2 regulation win on the road over the Mammoth in Utah on Dec. 8.
Jim Hiller
On the Kings building more momentum offensively
"I thought we were dangerous in the first, probably had a chance to get a couple more, which would have been really nice, a bit of a cushion, because they pushed at the end. Kempe’s goal, I’d have to think about it, but it's probably his nicest goal of the year. A great pass by Kevin, saw him with his speed, and then the most important part is that finish, because that’s hard to do. That looked like a goal scorer and got us going in the right direction."
On the plays Kevin Fiala made to help create two goals for the Kings yesterday
"Two great plays. Those are big time plays. We talk about it, you get an assist, but they’re not all created equal. Those are two of the best ones you can have. He was important in that way tonight."
On making the adjustment to the top-six forward lines to pair Kevin Fiala with Adrian Kempe and Anze Kopitar after being on the penalty kill on special teams
"We’ve got Laf penalty killing this year, Army is a penalty killer, so we don’t kill Juice and Kopi as much, so that gets them fresh and ready. I’ve done that for a while, as Kevin would always come out of the out of that penalty kill, so now it’s the three of them, so they get their shifts together. That worked out pretty good for us tonight."
On Kopitar's faceoff success for the Kings yesterday vs. Utah
"Kept him busy there for sure, but he was good. He won those big faceoffs. Q had a couple of big wins. Phil did too at different times. I was leaning on him (Kopitar), and that stick is heavy when he gets it on the dot."
On the Kings being able to close out the win yesterday vs. Utah
"We’ve been in so many games, this type of game, far too many for our liking to be honest with you. I thought they pushed us pretty good in the second period, they got on the power play, got some momentum, got us on our heels, but I thought we gathered ourselves in the third, despite them pushing a little bit at the end. I liked how we played the third."
On reaching double-digit road wins early this regular season for the Kings
"We play one-goal games for the most part and you like to come out the right side of it. We’ve come out on the right side of it more often than not on the road than at home, we just have, for a lot of different reasons. We’ve got the mothers with us here, so we’re going to give them all the credit in the world. Drew’s birthday, his mom gave us a nice speech after the game, so we’ll give the moms some credit."