Five games into this fall in the regular season, the Los Angeles Kings (5-4-4) are still looking for more success in the win column and in the standings in the West on home ice. A 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils (9-3-0) at home at Crypto.com Arena yesterday moved the Kings to 0-3-2 this regular season on their home ice.
Anze Kopitar and the Los Angeles Kings end their winning streak on home ice vs. the New Jersey Devils this weekend
The Kings played well enough to win this game on the scoreboard vs. New Jersey. But the results weren't there. LA needed its top players with the top-six forward core yesterday to get more scoring chances and opportunities that are high quality in nature to get the puck in the net more often.
LA's top forwards, including Adrian Kempe, Anze Kopitar, and Kevin Fiala, neither one of them created multiple high-danger scoring chances vs. New Jersey (per Natural Stat Trick).
Kopitar and Fiala spoke to the media postgame for the Kings after the multi-goal loss to the Devils on home ice on Saturday night.
Kopitar extended his point streak to two games for the Kings after he registered an assist on the third-period goal by Andrei Kuzmenko.
Here's a look at everything Fiala and Kopitar said to the media postgame following the Kings' 4-1 loss at home at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 1.
Kevin Fiala
On the team's struggles offensively in the past couple of games at home for the Kings
"We had a lot of chances, a lot of shots, we just have to keep going, it's going to go in eventually. I know it sucks for everybody in this room, but we can't give up. We have to bounce back and take the next game."
On if the Kings should win more games with the amount of scoring chances vs. New Jersey last night
"There's bounces, there's saves, there's whatsoever talk, it can go either way, but if you have chances after chances, eventually hopefully they get in, and we maybe have a game or two where they bounce back and the bounces go our way. For that, we have to work hard, we have to keep going. I think eventually it's going to turn."
On the struggles on the power play
"Yeah, had a few chances there also. We were amazing in the first 10 games or whatever it was. And then we had lots of chances, in my opinion, just didn't go in. We need to have a short memory; there are 82 games, so we can't dig a hole."
On the Kings taking fewer penalties vs. New Jersey
"I think we checked well, our sticks were down, all those little things. So good job on that, and we have to keep going."
On the Kings moving forward after the tough losses
"We're all experienced enough, we have some young guys, and we have veterans that can show it with experience. Be leaders there. It doesn't really matter if you won or lost, you scored the OT, you lost in overtime, or whatever it is. It's in the past. You got to be present. It sucks to lose. But I'm sure we're going to be back."
Anze Kopitar
On the Kings going winless in five games on home ice to start this regular season
"I don’t think we’re scoring many goals, obviously. There’s not enough dirty goals, if you will. We’re not doing very good on our special teams and that usually translates into losses."
On the Kings not taking any penalties vs. New Jersey
"We've definitely taken too many in some games, and it kills the rhythm of the game, really. Some guys play more, some guys don't get on the ice at all during that time. So, it's not obviously ideal, but we'll continue to build on that and hopefully not take too many more."
On where the team is at after the season's first 13 games this fall
"The record is not where we want it to be, also could have been worse. I don’t think we’re very far off from what we were last year. Now, it’s 12,13, games in, everybody’s starting to feel a little bit more comfortable, I think, just the chemistry is getting to a point where we’re making better plays just kind of feeding off each other. We’ll continue to build that and go from there."
On the issues on the power play on special teams
"Maybe trying to be too cute, maybe not shooting enough. Maybe we need to take a bit of a deeper dive into it and analyze and see what we can come up with."
On if the Kings should've won yesterday vs. New Jersey with the amount of scoring chances and opportunities
"There was some good o-zone time, but as I said before, I don’t think there’s enough stuff going on around the net, so we’ll correct that. When we get that going, I think those second, third opportunities are going to present itself and usually it’s a little bit easier to score on those. That’s what we’ve got to get to."