A reset and new hard work mentality in the West was exactly what the Los Angeles Kings (16-12-9) and center captain Anze Kopitar needed in the Pacific Division yesterday (Dec. 27) for a big offensive win over the rival Anaheim Ducks (21-15-2) at home at Crypto.com Arena.
Alex Laferriere and Anze Kopitar combine for a hat trick and six total points in a dominant five-goal Los Angeles Kings' win over the Ducks
Kopitar got closer to breaking the record for the most points in Kings' franchise history, registering three assists, including on the insurance goal by Alex Laferriere in the game's first period in the opening frame against the Ducks yesterday in the West.
Laferriere had the season's first hat trick and the first hat trick offensively of his career in the NHL in the league for the Kings yesterday vs. Anaheim in the Pacific Division.
Laferriere and Kopitar gave their reactions and takeaways to the media yesterday after the 6-1 romping of the Ducks in the Pacific Division yesterday on home ice.
Kopitar registered an assist on all three goals Laferriere scored yesterday offensively vs. the Ducks in the opening frame in the first period and in the final frame at Crypto Arena.
Here's a look at everything Kopitar and Laferriere said to the media postgame following the Kings' dominant 6-1 win over the Ducks at Crypto Arena at home on Saturday night (Dec. 27).
Anze Kopitar
On how his line with Alex Laferriere and Adrian Kempe played yesterday
"I thought we came out, as a whole and as a line, we came out good in the first period, and we were really moving the puck well, we were spending a lot of time in their zone, and you just want to build off the first couple shifts and then we were able to get on the board, actually scored four. That was good, maybe a little bit of a lethargic second period, and not the way we wanted to play, and then came back in the third again. Laf was feeling it tonight, so really happy for him to get his first hat trick."
On how the Kings scored yesterday on the top line group
"You want to create as much o-zone time as you can and just kind of make something happen off of that. I thought we were attacking the net pretty well and that’s why all those maybe a little prettier plays open up like that. We were able to cash in on it."
On the feeling of scoring more goals offensively yesterday
"I think last game against Seattle, we had some good chances, we just didn’t score. Sometimes, when we were on that extended streak of not being able to put the puck in the net, you get thinking and you get discouraged a little bit. To see a few go in early tonight, especially after a break, it’s obviously a good thing. Hopefully we can continue building on that."
On how the three-day holiday break for Christmas impacted the Kings
"It's nice to be away from the rink a little bit and spending time at home with your family, and Christmas time is very great in my opinion. So, it was nice. But then again, once you come back to the rink, you get reminded a lot of what did happen and should happen going forward. So, we're able to come out strong and really get it going early."
On getting so much run support from the blue line on defense
"It’s been a couple games now to where they’ve been a little bit more active than maybe the start of the year. It just opens up the ice a little bit more, obviously another option coming out of our zone and going into the o-zone. Every team does it, so it’s nice to see the other guys do it and get rewarded for it."
Alex Laferriere
On if he wore the new shoes to the game
"I wore them to the practice. So I wore them today. [I'll be wearing them] pretty much every day now, probably."
On his reaction after scoring his first career hat trick yesterday
"When I walked in after the interview on the bench there, everyone gave me a claps, which was pretty cool. I got to take a picture with the pucks after, but I think they're going to frame them or something. It was pretty cool to to get to hold those for a second with everybody."
On getting going with the goal scoring offensively in the opening frame vs. Anaheim
"After I scored the first one, Kopi was joking if I didn't score that one, he wasn't going to pass me anymore. So, I knew I had to bear down on that one. Those guys were finding me in the soft ice pretty much the last two games. So many times, and I wasn't able to bury them. Tonight I was able to."
On how much of a relief it is for the Kings to get an offensive outburst scoring the puck yesterday vs. Anaheim
"Yes and no. It's kind of a weird spot because there's so much hockey left against such a good team who can score a ton of goals every single night. For us, it's nice to get those goals, but we just got to stay hungry and know that the guys on the other side of the ice are really good players and they can score that many goals in a period as well. It's relieving that knowing that we haven't scored a lot of goals, but we always got to stay hungry."
On how the Kings can build on this momentum offensively scoring the puck
"It's a weird point in the year, but we're lucky enough to have some players who have a lot of experience and who have been through the ringer in this league and they've been in all sorts of situations. And for us young guys, it's nice to be able to look at those guys and see how they handle situations like this, being able to lean on those guys and look at them and see how patient they are, and not forcing anything gives us a sense of relief."
On getting more offensive support from the blue line vs. Anaheim
"It's huge. They've been awesome for us all year, and it's nice when they get rewarded as well. These last couple games they've been getting in the rush a lot more and I think it's creating a lot more for our team, and it's nice to see them get the rewards of that on the score sheet."