The Los Angeles Kings' (10-6-4) four-game winning streak in the past week was snapped in a 2-1 loss to Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals (9-8-2) on Monday evening (Nov. 17). The Capitals jumped on the Kings early after Jim Hiller's team got off to a sluggish start on the road yesterday evening in the nation's capital.
A power play goal thanks to Kevin Fiala and Anze Kopitar is all the offense the Los Angeles Kings can muster in a 2-1 loss to Washington
Kings' players had to adjust to life without defenseman Drew Doughty and some line shifts on the blue line yesterday. Brian Dumoulin played the right side on defense alongside Mikey Anderson with the Kings' top defensive pairing on the blue line.
The lone goal for the Kings, that cut the Capitals' lead on the scoreboard in half in the middle frame in the second period, was scored by captain center Anze Kopitar. Kevin Fiala and Corey Perry fed Kopitar in front of the net for the goal in the second period on special teams on the power play.
Dumoulin and Fiala gave their thoughts and takeaways to the media after the sluggish 2-1 loss to the Capitals yesterday.
In the loss to Washington, Fiala registered his fifth point in the past five games on this six-game road trip in the Eastern Conference for Hiller and the Kings.
Here's a look at everything Dumoulin and Fiala said to the media postgame following the Kings' close 2-1 loss on the road to the Capitals in Washington D.C. on Nov. 17 at Capital One Arena.
Brian Dumoulin
On his takeaways from the loss to Washington
"I thought we worked. They made it hard on us; they defended really hard, blocked a lot of shots. You could tell they were desperate. I loved our fight. I thought we fought hard to the end. Obviously, it’s not easy circumstances. I’m proud of our group and our road trip."
On the team's sluggish start at even strength at 5-on-5
"We were working. They did a good job of hanging onto pucks down there, they’re a big, strong team, they got to the net really hard. We knew it was going to be a tough game, but we gave ourselves a chance."
On playing the right side on the blue line on defense for the Kings
"It’s tough in some situations, it’s good in some situations. I played a lot last year on the right side and a lot through my career with Kris [Letang]. It’s nothing I’m not used to, but always a little bit of adjustment, you get a little bit more comfortable as you play more."
On the pairing on defense with Mikey Anderson yesterday vs. Washington
"He’s really solid defensively. He talks a lot, makes good, solid plays, and you know what he’s going to do with the puck. He’s an easy guy to read off of."
On the success the Kings have experienced on the road trip so far in the past week
"We’ve started to get an identity. I think everyone is starting to feel their roles and know what they have to do to bring to this team for us to win. Now, we’ve got to establish ourselves here on home ice now."
Kevin Fiala
On his thoughts from the loss to Washington yesterday
"Overall, it was a great road trip. It sometimes gets hard on the last game on a long road trip. I think we did a good job, we got better and better as the game went on and had good chances. They also had good chances, Darce kept us in there. It could have went our way, but it didn't. We have to go home and regroup."
On if the late arrival to the game impacted the team's start vs. Washington
"It was late, but we're professionals. We had a good day yesterday to prepare for today. So, I don't like to find excuses at all. So, that's on us. We got to find a way to get ready. And I think we did. The start was a little slow, but I think we found our legs as the game went on and got better and better. Had our chances. Their goalie played good and that's how it went."
On the chances the team had to tie the game up yesterday vs Washington on offense
"I think one more for sure. We had a lot of looks in my opinion. Their goalie played good. We just couldn't find the back of the net. We were trying our best. We were grinding. Sometimes it goes, sometimes not. Tonight wasn't our night."
On the success the Kings have had on the road trip so far
"Great trip from the beginning till today. You can't win them all. In the big picture, we can take very good things with us."
On his reaction to Adrian Kempe signing the long-term contract extension deal with LA
"Very nice to see, you know, that he gets rewarded, and so it's done now. Very nice for him and the team. We're very excited for him to have him for another eight years."