After getting down by three goals in the game's first 25 minutes against the Carolina Hurricanes (5-0-0) on Saturday evening (Oct. 18), the Los Angeles Kings (1-3-2) came all the way back to tie things up on the scoreboard in the third period.
Kevin Fiala and Adrian Kempe help to lead a Los Angeles Kings comeback effort that falls short in overtime vs. the Carolina Hurricanes this weekend
Trevor Moore and Andrei Kuzmenko got the scoring going for the Kings late in the middle frame and early in the third period in clutch time last night vs. Carolina. And then, Kevin Fiala took a nice pass from Adrian Kempe for the game-tying goal to come all the way back from down 3-0 on the scoreboard in the third period for the Kings.
Fiala and Kempe kept it pretty honest when speaking with the media about the loss to the Hurricanes and the points they had in the offensive zone last night.
These two combined for one goal and three total points, including the game-tying goal for Fiala in the game's third period, helping the Kings push the game to overtime against Carolina on Saturday on home ice.
Here's a look at everything Fiala and Kempe said to the media postgame following the Kings' 4-3 overtime loss to the Hurricanes at Crypto Arena on Oct. 18.
Kevin Fiala
On the Kings' needing to play complete 60-minute efforts in games this regular season
"Just have to play 60 minutes. We’re showing it through the year, it’s still early, but we have to find a way to play 60 minutes. I mean, we played great hockey today and we’ve got to find a way to play like that for 60 minutes. We’d have a better chance to win the game."
On what he saw on the game-tying goal in the third period
"I saw open space, and instinct took over, and it was a nice play by him [Kempe]."
On the Kings' comeback effort in the second and third periods vs. Carolina
"I think just the complete level went up way more, to be honest. Just getting pucks back, hunting pucks, getting pucks to the net, we were battling in front of the net, winning more puck battles overall. I think that it showed and we got rewarded."
On the Kings' issue with falling behind in games and having to comeback
"It’s a positive thing that we can come back, obviously, but with that said, we want to take the lead and not always chase from behind. It’s good to know we can chase but it’s always nicer to have the lead, play with the lead and so I think in the future here, next game, we want to just have a great start, a better start, obviously and just keep on going. Don’t even think about the third period, second period, just shift by shift, go back to basics and compete."
On Anton Forsberg's play in net vs. Carolina
"It was huge. So grateful. He could have more goals, obviously, so he was there, he was making great saves and kept us in it. He gave us a chance to come back."
On playing with Quinton Byfield and Adrian Kempe on the top forward line
"I think it was very exciting, but at the end of the day, it was just focus and win the game. You know, get the goal, get the first goal, keep on grinding and see what happens in the end. It wasn’t too much thinking and I think that’s why it worked out. I had a nice goal here and obviously we three are pretty good players, so it was exciting."
On playing in overtime when the Kings have momentum on the scoreboard
"Yeah, we had the momentum, we came back. Keep on rolling, overtime is three and three, anything can happen, bounce there, bounce there. Clarkie had a great block and right on his stick, so it was a bad bounce. But we tried to win those games with this comeback; it would have been a great one, so move on.
Adrian Kempe
On the Kings' comeback efforts vs. Carolina last night
"We did it again. Obviously our start wasn't good enough, but I think, we showed again that we battle back and show show how good we can be, but yeah, it's tough. If you win three of those OT games, then we're standing here all happy and laughing about it. So, it's obviously very small details still, obviously not in the spot we wanted to be."
On the play on the assist on the game-tying goal to Kevin Fiala
"Once entering the zone is something that I've been working on, something everybody's been working on. You want to pick guys and open up space for other people. So that's something I try to do and open up for Kevin, who's been a great shooter. It was an important goal".
On Anton Forsberg's play down the stretch for LA
"Yeah, he was great today. I think overall throughout the game I don't think we helped him enough in the first period, kept us in the game for sure. But then as the game went on you know we were down three you have to take some risks and when they got their chances he was there to save us."
On the chemistry with his line in the second and third periods vs. Carolina
"When it works, it's obviously a good thing and you want to keep playing with that. Obviously, you want to find chemistry with the one you're playing. Going back to last game, I think I played really well with Coozy and Phil. It's hard when you don't get wins and whoever you play with, I think you got to find a way and obviously right now all we got to do is find a way to win a game."
On playing up and down to the competition early this regular season
"Both obviously. I think some games we've had some really good starts, but then it comes down to penalties and all that kind of stuff, and myself included, that's something we still have to work on, get better at, but I think the PK was way better today. I think that's a step in the right direction. You know, power play, we got another goal that was good. Knowing that you can come back in games is really important."
On the Kings rallying back from down 3-0 in the second period
"I think obviously everybody saw that the start wasn't good enough, and we're talking about it on the bench. We're talking about it after the first period, and I mean, all it takes is one Ozone shift, and then everybody starts feeling better and getting in on the forecheck, getting a hit, or something like that. It's the very small things to make sure everybody's ready to play when the puck drops."