You could argue that Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (13-7-8) played their best and most effective offensive outburst game of this regular season in a dominant 6-0 shutout win over the Chicago Blackhawks (12-10-6) and head coach Jeff Blashill at Crypto Arena on Saturday night (Dec. 6). The Kings mauled the Blackhawks in a six-goal shutout win that so many players have huge nights for the team on the power play on special teams and on both ends of the ice yesterday.
Second and third period goals from Brandt Clarke on the blue line and Alex Turcotte bolsters the Los Angeles Kings to the best offensive outburst this fall vs. the Blackhawks this week
Defenseman Brandt Clarke and forward Warren Foegele helped the Kings jump out to a big 4-0 lead on the scoreboard in the game's second period and early in the last frame in the third in the final 20 minutes. Alex Turcotte and Drew Doughty combined for one goal and four total points as the Kings won the regular season series vs. the Blackhawks yesterday night.
Turcotte and Clarke gave their reactions to the media after the game yesterday in a massive offensive outpouring that resulted in a 6-0 shutout win over Chicago on home ice.
Yesterday night was not only the first multi-goal game of this regular season for Clarke on the blue line on defense for the Kings, but it was also Turcotte's first goal he ever scored for LA at Crypto.com Arena in his career in the league.
Here's a look at everything Clarke and Turcotte said to the media postgame following the Kings' dominant 6-0 shutout win offensively vs. Chicago on home ice on Dec. 6 at Crypto Arena.
Brandt Clarke
On what changed that had the Kings' offensively scoring six goals yesterday vs. Chicago
"Sometimes they just go in. I feel like there's been looks around the net recently that just haven't gone in, and it's frustrating, and I think collectively maybe we were gripping the stick a little too tight. But tonight, we're just finding the back of the net and finding each other in the offensive zone. And, it all starts with Phil's line and Foege's getting that first one. It was a sigh of relief, like we got the lead here. Let's just play now, and that's what happened."
On the adjustments the team made after the game's first period
"We were hard on their D. That was the emphasis right out of the gate to get on them quickly, get on that goalie. He's been playing really good recently. So, just get lots of pucks to the net. I don't think we did that effectively in the first, but that was the emphasis in the first intermission. We came out hot in the second, and it started with those guys, and we picked up off that big power play goal.
We rolled from there right into the third and kept it going. It was also said not to take the foot off the gas, just keep playing the same way, keep playing in their zone, and that's what happened."
On if the goals scored by the blue line on defense can boost the offense for the Kings
"I don't know. You try to fill in the holes. That was a great job by Mikey there on the 4-on-4 on the wide side. It was an awesome shot. I just tried to on my second one. I tried to jump in the hole and be an option, and Juice found me, and I put it in. So, I think that's just what we're looking for. We're encouraged to when the time is right, like they were in those two instances, to take it, and that's what happens. I think we've been doing that recently and haven't been going in, and tonight they did. It's a good feeling."
On the Kings getting the secondary support offensively vs. Chicago
"I think it's huge. This was collectively, even the guys that didn't score tonight. I think we all took a step tonight. We were all happy for each other on the bench. We all wanted to see each other do well, and it was a fall 20-man effort tonight that got the job done. Shout out to Darcy, too. I think that's the most undercover effective shutout you'll ever see."
Alex Turcotte
On scoring his first career goal yesterday at Crypto.com Arena for the Kings vs. Chicago
"It’s been forever. It’s definitely a relief to just have that over with and hopefully the floodgates open and I can put in more consistently. I’ve definitely known for a while, so it’s good it’s over with."
On how yesterday's offensive outburst could calm the pressure for the Kings on that end of the ice
"It’s been tough treading the last little bit, scoring, and we all know it, it’s not a secret. To get six, it felt great, and we were making a lot of plays there, you could tell that we were playing a little bit more free, which is good. A lot of us have been struggling offensively, so we’ve been gripping our sticks a little too much. Definitely it’s nice. But it’s one game, so we’ve got to build off of it."
On how the team prepared for yesterday's game
"We had a good mindset going into today. We knew we didn’t play great last game. We got some good bounces today as well, and that’s sometimes all it takes, and you feel good about it. I think once you see a couple go in, it’s just natural instinct to loosen up a little bit and you get a little bit more confident with the puck."
On the goal he scored yesterday
"Dewey and Mikey made a great breakout play and Perrs kind of set a moving pick on one of their guys and freed me up some space for me. I just used my speed and I knew I was taking it the whole way, I didn’t even think about passing, which I’ve got to have that mindset more. So, that was nice and I got lucky. He made a good save, but it hit off me and went in, so I’ll take it."
On his takeaways from the win vs. Chicago yesterday
"The feeling that we had when we were making plays out there and scoring. It's a lot of fun and just having the right mindset of being positive and having fun out there. It's all mindset, and I think this proves that if you stick with it, good things can happen. But it's only one game. You want to show that over the course of 10, 20, and hopefully most of the season."