The Los Angeles Kings (1-3-1) have dropped its first two games on home ice at Crypto.com Arena after a tough 4-2 comeback loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins (3-2-0) in the third period on Thursday night (Oct. 16).
A combination of an inability to finish scoring chances around the net in front of Arturs Silovs vs. the Penguins, and the Kings' penalty kill and power play on special teams coming up short cost LA last night against Pittsburgh. Trevor Moore and the Kings' penalty kill on special teams gave up the game-winning goal on a shorthanded play last night against the Penguins in the third period.
Phillip Danault and Trevor Moore come up short with the Los Angeles Kings vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins late this week on home ice
Moore and Phillip Danault gave their thoughts and takeaways from the Kings' two-goal loss to the Penguins, along with where the team is at five games into this fall, early in the regular season.
Here's a look at everything Danault and Moore said to the media following the Kings' 4-2 loss to the Penguins at home at Crypto Arena on Oct. 16.
Trevor Moore
On the takeaways from the loss to Pittsburgh last night
"I think it was another good start for us. A couple early and then let it get away from us in the second, but a lot of chances in the third. We have to figure out a way to pull out a full 60 together."
On the Kings' momentum they built early in the first period vs. Pittsburgh
"It shouldn't matter. We should be able to roll our four lines for three periods, 60 full minutes; we should be able to just put that game away."
On the scoring chances the Kings got early in the game
"Yeah, I thought we had a lot of chances. I really think the pucks are going to start going in for us, and we're going to start feeling better. At the same time, we got to bear down on our chances, and it's on us to put those in."
On the Kings' slow start early this regular season
"I feel like we're a confident group. I think that we've shown that we can have really good periods, and then for whatever reason, it just gets away from us. PK's got to be better. That's it's on me, especially. We just have to put it all together, and we will. It's still early in the year. Can't panic yet, but we'll be fine."
Phillip Danault
On the takeaways from the loss to Pittsburgh last night
"I would say best game 5-on-5, we got a lot of chances, just got to bury. Obviously, the penalty-kill goal and their power-play goal as well, and that’s pretty much the game right there."
On the shorthanded game-winning goal for Pittsburgh that cost the Kings
"It was a tough goal. Obviously they got the winner, right/We kept pushing after that, all game, and it didn’t go in. They took advantage."
On where the Kings' penalty kill is at right now
"I mean, it’s a shot from the dot. He’s a good player, like he’s going to find those little holes and he found it so maybe we could’ve cleared it before that, it’s a little mistake that ends up in the back of the net. They have really good players but every team has a good power play so we can’t afford those mistakes."
On if the Kings had enough scoring chances to beat the Penguins
"100 percent. It was just a matter that. We could have buried many more than two, that’s for sure."