Quinton Byfield and the Los Angeles Kings (18-15-10) pushed back a bit in the middle frame in the second period on Friday (Jan. 9) vs. the Winnipeg Jets, but it wasn't enough to get the team back in the game in the third period. The Kings, after the opening frame in the first period, were never able to get back within a single goal on the scoreboard vs. Winnipeg yesterday on the road.
A second-period goal from Quinton Byfield can't give the Los Angeles Kings the necessary juice vs. the Winnipeg Jets on Friday evening
Adrian Kempe and Taylor Ward registered the assists on the game's only goal yesterday scored by Byfield in the middle frame in the second period.
Kempe and Byfield gave their thoughts to the media yesterday after the sluggish and dominant 5-1 loss to the Jets on the road in Winnipeg.
One of the lone bright spots for Jim Hiller and the Kings yesterday was Byfield registering his fifth point in the past five games in this past couple of weeks for the team in the West vs. Winnipeg.
Here's a look at everything Kempe and Byfield said to the media postgame following the Kings' convincing 5-1 loss on the road vs. Winnipeg on Jan. 9.
Adrian Kempe
On how the Kings played in the first period yesterday
"Thought we had a pretty decent first period. Obviously down 2-0, so we’re not happy going into the locker room, but I think the start was good. I think we forechecked, had some turnovers, created some chances. It went the other way, obviously, down 2-0 after first, obviously, we did something wrong there. Overall, I think good effort but the play wasn’t there."
On how the game went sideways yesterday for the Kings
"We had a couple unfortunate bounces against us, but other than that, I think, you’re down a couple of goals, it’s tough to start climbing back. Tried to look for one or a couple, but I think we had our chances. Been kind of the same issue as it’s been all year, and that’s, putting more than one or two on the board and it continued tonight."
On how the Kings were able to generate more chances in the third period
"Goalie played great for them. I think when you go into the third period like that, as the leading team, you don’t want to give up stuff. You don’t want to give up easy stuff. So, they’re automatically going to sit back a little bit more. Maybe that’s why we had the puck more. But I think we had a good effort in the third, we’re trying to force the puck to the net, get chances. I think we had some good looks, power play I think we had some good looks. It’s unfortunate. The puck doesn’t go in."
On how desperate Winnipeg played yesterday vs. the Kings
"They’re always a hard team to play against. I haven’t watched them over the last 11, so I don’t know what has gone wrong for them, but tonight was no different than the last time we played them here. They check, keep it simple, they play hard, and usually ends up being tight games against them. Obviously, a couple bounces could have went our way tonight, but, they played a good, solid game."
On the impact of Anze Kopitar's absence in the lineup for the Kings yesterday
"We had him out a couple of games earlier in the season, not a crazy change. Obviously, I played with him for a long time. Having [Laferriere] in the middle that’s usually not a centerman, some things change, but I think we were moving well tonight.
I think Laf has been doing a really good job. Obviously, he’s not a natural center, so it’s big shoes to fill, but I think he’s been doing a really good job on faceoffs, down low, and all that kind of stuff. So, still trying to keep my game going, and take charge out there as much as I can."
On how the Kings can refocus vs. Edmonton this weekend
"Just bounce back. I think usually when we have a game like this, or a back to back, I think we come out hot in the next game and that's something that we're looking forward tomorrow. Hopefully, bounce back, forget about this one. Come back tomorrow, fresh start, and go out and play well."
Quinton Byfield
On what went wrong early in the game
"I feel like it wasn't too bad. I feel like there was a lot of bounces out there today. Unfortunate, but there's also some on us, like there's some chances I would like back where maybe over pass instead of shooting. I think we only had four shots in the first. That's probably a big area just getting pucks to the net, playing down low.
On showing more confidence and aggression offensively
"My instinct is pass first. So, obviously got to switch that mindset. We got some key guys out right now. A lot of guys who got that production done for us, and some guys got to step up, myself included. Got to be a little bit more selfish and just take something to the net and fire a couple more."
On the impact of the forwards missing in the active roster lineup for the Kings
"It's definitely an adjustment. Some big players out, some key guys, key leaders as well. That just makes more opportunity for everybody else, myself included, to step up. At times it was there, but some unfortunate bounces, some plays like that as well."
On how difficult it was to face Winnipeg yesterday on the road
"I feel like everybody knew they're on a bad losing streak there, and they came out desperate, you know, wanted it. They out-muscled a couple, got to the net higher than us. Their goalie played well, they just knew what they had to do, and, being on that losing streak, they came out hard."