It has become a consistent occurrence for the Los Angeles Kings (3-3-3) and head coach Jim Hiller to need extra time in overtime or a shootout to end games early this regular season this fall. The Kings fell short in a shootout against the Nashville Predators (4-3-2) on the road on Saturday night, by a close score of 5-4.
For the sixth time this regular season, Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings need overtime or a shootout to get at least one point in the standings
The shootout loss to the Predators snapped a two-game winning streak for Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, and the Kings in the West early this regular season from earlier this week. Hiller and the Kings couldn't hold onto a 4-3 lead late in the third period in clutch time against Nashville yesterday in the final frame.
Nine rounds in the shootout determined the winner yesterday between the Kings and the Preds on the road. The Kings picked up a point in the standings for the fourth straight game in overtime or the shootout.
Hiller spoke his mind regarding the play of some key Kings' players on both ends of the ice to the media postgame in the locker room following the 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators.
The Kings had their captain return from a lower-body injury yesterday to give the first-line forward group a boost in the faceoff circle and on both sides of the ice.
Here's a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings' 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators on the road on Oct. 25.
Jim Hiller
On the Kings' needing to close out games like yesterday vs. the Predators with leads in regulation in the third period
"We have to be able to close out that game; that’s our calling card. We didn’t give them much the second half, but we gave them rush chances, a 2-on-1, basically a breakaway. The quality of chances are uncharacteristic of what we typically give. You do that, you usually get burned."
On the scoring chances the Kings gave up that Nashville scored on in the second and third periods
"There weren’t a lot of them, but the ones were egregious, just breakdowns from veteran players and it came back to bite us. That’s basically it. When you look at the game, the penalty kill has been struggling, but power play’s been going good. Tonight, our penalty kill does its job, and the power play couldn’t get it done. Yeah, it’s a frustrating loss."
On how the entire team played on both ends of the ice last night vs. Nashville
"I thought Phil’s line was really good. They were good against Colorado in not a great game for our team. They were alright against Carolina, but tonight, they really established, re-established their identity, so I was really happy with that line in particular. Then, if you call it our fourth line, you get Armia and you get Perry to score, those are bonuses. We turned one over and they scored one, so we end up +1 from that line, but you can’t complain about the job they did in the minutes they got."
On how the Kings' forward lines played together last night
"For me, the Danault line really stood out, but there were great plays in scoring the goals and really getting us back into the game. The Armia play to Perry on the 2-on-1 was one of the nicer goals we’ve seen this year. Good energy out of all four lines. We have to regroup and go back and get ready to do it again in short order."
On Anze Kopitar's first game back in the lineup for the Kings
"He's definitely filled the hole for us. There's no question. Having him around the team in the locker room, but also on the ice, the faceoffs, the 3-on-4 kill at the end, a large part due to him. He's our leader, and he's basically the beacon for all of our players. You always want to have him around."
On Brandt Clarke's play in the offensive zone vs. Nashville
"He made a couple of really good plays and we were able to spend time in the o-zone, so that’s where he gets to show his greatest skills. It’s on us to make sure we’re forechecking and we’re winning puck battles, we’re getting the puck up to the top, and then he gets an opportunity to do his thing."