Led by goals from standout forward Adrian Kempe and young center Quinton Byfield, the Los Angeles Kings (23-17-13) grinded out a clutch 3-2 overtime win on the road on this East road trip this weekend to start back-to-back games on Saturday (Jan. 31) vs. the Philadelphia Flyers (24-20-10) from the Metropolitan Division.
Overtime game-winner from Quinton Byfield gets the Los Angeles Kings a momentum boost in the front end of back-to-back games this weekend vs. Philadelphia in the East
Byfield delivered the game-winning goal in overtime on a nice snipe shot that he got past the Flyers' goalie in extra time to give the Kings two points in the standings in the West this weekend in Philly on the road yesterday. The Kings also got center captain Anze Kopitar back in the active roster lineup for the first time in the past few weeks yesterday, which was a big boost for the offensive forward lines core group on the ice.
Kopitar and Byfield gave their reactions to the media postgame yesterday after a clutch and hard-fought 3-2 overtime win on the road over the Flyers in the East this weekend in the front end of back-to-back games.
Yesterday was the first game back for Kopitar with the Kings in this past few weeks in the West, and he looked pretty comfortable winning faceoffs and on both ends of the ice for Hiller and staff.
Here's a look at everything Byfield and Kopitar said to the media postgame following the Kings' clutch 3-2 overtime win over the Flyers in the East on the road in Philly on Jan. 31.
Anze Kopitar
On how he felt in his first game back from an injury yesterday on the road
"It felt fairly okay. There's always the first game where you try to obviously find the rhythm, find the timing of it. So, it doesn't really matter how hard you skate and bag yourself, putting in game situations. It's a lot different. I think tonight was pretty good. Obviously, a big win for the team, and we'll build from here on out."
On how the Kings team responded after the game was tied on the scoreboard in the final frame
"It's just grinding away, really. It's kind of been the story of this year. We got to just keep on grinding."
On the game-winning goal Quinton Byfield scored in overtime yesterday
"He's been a big piece for OT, and you saw the shot, he took it, and it went in so good for us."
Quinton Byfield
On his reaction to the win over Philadelphia yesterday
"We started the game out pretty strong. Laf, Juice and Perrs got two big goals to start it off and then we kind of let them back in the game. Kudos to them, they’re a really good team. Then, we showed our resilience there, kind of took the game back and finally won in overtime."
On how the Kings responded after the game was tied on the scoreboard in the final frame
"We just had to calm down. In the first, for most of that period, we were on them, and then they kind of took it back to us. So, we just had to take a step back, calm down, start making plays again, get it behind them, just simplify it. That kind of gave us what we needed to come back and eventually win.""
On the game-winning goal he scored in overtime
"I saw Dewey make a good pass to Juice, and I was kind of just maintaining my speed there. Then, I was thinking, just shot all the way, and luckily it went in this time."
On the impact of having Anze Kopitar back in the active roster lineup yesterday vs. Philly
"We're missing a ton of centers and obviously getting your captain back, the leadership there, then obviously what he's meant for the organization. He's a huge part to our team, and being able to see him back on the ice, in the locker room, it's really good, and it's a big boost in the room and on the ice.
On how Darcy Kuemper played yesterday
"Kuemps has been, since he’s got here, he’s been amazing for us. It allows you to be a little bit more offensive, making some plays because you know you have a guy that you trust back there, who is so good for you all the time. Kuemps was just making those big saves at the key moments again. We trust him so much."