Late-game and shootout heroics on the ice yesterday (Jan. 24) from winger Trevor Moore and a multi-point and one-goal game on the stat sheet from Alex Laferriere steered the Los Angeles Kings (21-16-13) to a 5-4 shootout win on the road over the St. Louis Blues (19-24-9) in the West. The Kings harnessed momentum early in the game in the opening frame in the first period, thanks to a goal from forward Taylor Ward.
Three points combined from Alex Laferriere and Trevor Moore, including a game-winning shootout goal, gives the Los Angeles Kings a 5-4 shootout win vs. St. Louis this weekend
Defenseman Brian Dumoulin scored the season's first goal yesterday to double the Kings' lead on the scoreboard early in the middle frame. The Blues battled back with two straight goals on the scoreboard in the middle frame.
The Kings and Blues traded punches in the final two frames, including a couple of important goals in the game's final 30 minutes on the scoreboard from Laferriere and Moore.
But the Kings got the last laugh in the shootout yesterday, thanks to a nice game-winning shootout goal from Moore to seal the win and the two points in the standings in the West yesterday.
Laferriere and Moore gave their reactions to the media yesterday after the vital and momentum-building 5-4 shootout win on the road to start a road trip in the West over the Blues this weekend.
Yesterday's game snapped a streak of over a half-dozen games for Laferriere in the West without scoring a point on the stat sheet. It was also the first game back in the active roster lineup for Moore in almost a month since last month in late December.
Here's a look at everything Moore and Laferriere said to the media postgame following the Kings' crucial road 5-4 shootout win on Saturday night (Jan. 24) over the Blues at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis.
Alex Laferriere
On his thoughts on the win yesterday vs. St. Louis
"Really resilient from our group, I thought. Giving up three goals in the second there, and then being able to bounce back like that was huge. You look at our group, you look at Mooresie, the way he came back tonight was huge for us. He played unbelievably all night, and was able to get a huge goal for us. I think that just goes to show the identity of our team and that everyone’s ready to go every single night. And we're a really resilient group."
On Trevor Moore's impact on the game yesterday vs. St. Louis
"Huge. We see him at the rink every day, working his best, working his hardest, and we need a guy like him in the lineup every single night, and to not have him really stinks. But to see how hard he's pushing to get back with us and knowing how bad he wants to be out there with us is huge. And then when we get him out there, and he's scoring those goals, it's unbelievable and really revives our team."
On how the Kings flipped momentum yesterday when the team was down on the scoreboard 3-2
"We just simplified it, right from the start. Right when they scored that third goal, we just got it in, and we were able to win pucks back and get it towards the net. I think we dominated them from that point on. I think we played a little bit more Kings hockey than we did at the start."
On the goal he scored in the middle frame vs. St. Louis
"Perrs made an unbelievable play. He’s one of the best netfront guys in the league. Anytime you can get him the puck down low and behind their goal line, it’s going to create positive stuff, so I tried to get open and looked like he had eyes in the back of his head there, and just slung it towards me and was able to sneak it in."
On the Kings needing to build momentum in the West and win multiple games in this road trip
"It’s huge. We’ve been good on the road this year and I think it’s created a lot of momentum for us as a team. Being able to get wins here in tough buildings is going to be huge for us. We’re at a point in the in the year where every point is pivotal, I think it’s huge for us."
Trevor Moore
On getting back in the game for the Kings and scoring a goal yesterday vs. St. Louis in clutch time
"Feels good to be back and playing, and grateful for that, and you see one go in an important moment, always feels good."
On the goal he scored in the shootout yesterday vs. St. Louis
"Confident, I believe I can do it. It's fun to be put in those situations and have the confidence from the guys to know you can score."
On what the Kings did to flip momentum when the team was down 3-2 on the scoreboard yesterday
"Just not panic. We had been playing a pretty good game. We were making some plays out there. So, more of that."
On the experience the Kings have gained from playing so many one-goal games and overtime games this regular season
"I think it's confidence. We obviously want to close out games before overtime, but we're comfortable there, and that's a good thing."
On how the Kings can build momentum in the standings in this road trip this week upcoming
"We'd love to get on a roll going into the break. That'd be huge. I think every team in the league wants that. We have a really good opportunity here to get that roll going."