This start to the road trip this week for the Los Angeles Kings (9-5-4) and head coach Jim Hiller has gone about as good as most fans could probably have imagined it would have in the East over the past few days. Led by back-to-back game-winning goals from center Quinton Byfield, the Kings have gone 3-0-0 to start this six-game road trip in the East this week, including wins over the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs (8-9-1).
Goals from Alex Laferriere and Quinton Byfield move the Los Angeles Kings to an undefeated record in 3 games on this road trip
Two forwards were very clutch for the Kings in the past few games, especially in yesterday's win over the Maple Leafs in Toronto. Alex Laferriere scored the game-tying goal in clutch time in the third period yesterday to push the game into overtime.
Byfield ended the game with a game-winning goal north of the border on this road trip for the second time this week since he scored the winner against the Canadiens this past Tuesday night (Nov. 11).
Laferriere and Byfield gave their thoughts to the media after the clutch win in overtime yesterday against the Maple Leafs in Toronto.
Both forwards continued their points streaks in multiple games on this road trip in the East with productive and clutch nights last night against Toronto.
Here's a look at everything Laferriere and Byfield said to the media postgame following the Kings' comeback 4-3 win in overtime over the Maple Leafs on the road on Nov. 13.
Alex Laferriere
On how the Kings fought for a tough win in overtime vs. Toronto last evening
"Games like that are tough. When you’re behind in the game but you feel like you’ve been controlling the whole game, it’s tough, but I think that shows the resilience from our group to be able to stick with it and not give up on each other and find it there in the end."
On how key it was for the Kings to keep pushing late to get rewarded in the third period and overtime
"Patience is huge. If you look in our locker room, guys like Kopi, Perrs and Dewey, they’ve been through pretty much any kind of game and you look at those guys and they’re patient, they’re not trying to force things. You look at that and you can look at that in yourself and just be like, it’s going to happen and you don’t have to force things."
On the game-tying goal he scored in the third period
"We had a great o-zone shift, Perrs, Q, and I, and it felt like we could have scored a couple times during that shift, but we just stayed with it. Clarkie made an unbelievable play, great shot, and I just threw my stick at it, and luckily it went off it and in. Just a great all-around play."
On the Kings finding so much success on the road this fall
"It feels like we're not doing anything different from when we're at home. I don't know really one thing to kind of pinpoint, but I think just resilience. Like I said, our group is so resilient and it's hard playing in other teams buildings and especially if you get behind early. I think that just goes to show the the leadership we have on this team."
On how the offense played vs. Toronto
"I think being connected. Being connected in the o-zone is something we’ve been preaching a lot, and I think those two goals specifically, it really showed. We were getting pucks to the net and being able to win those puck battles back and just keep going at them. I think if one guy is not doing their job out there, then we’re not going to hem them in like that. It took all five guys, and I think that was just unbelievable, connected hockey."
On the chemistry with his linemates since the line was put back together this week
"It took us a little bit more time to get back to how we were finishing the year last year. I think we're definitely feeling more connected now. It shows when all three of us on the ice are just throwing pucks and they're ending up on each other's tape. We know where each other are going to be and know each other's habits."
Quinton Byfield
On his thoughts from the tough overtime win vs. Toronto
"Yeah, even in the first period we're down to, and like it didn't feel like that for us. Coming off a good game in Pittsburgh, come back win there, and then a great game in Montreal. Just carrying that feeling over here. We just didn't feel like we were down. A lot of hope in here and knew that we're going to come back."
On his feelings about how the offense played yesterday vs. Toronto
"I think earlier in the season, as all five guys, we weren't breaking the puck out that clean. That's on me, too. Being the center, I got to be down low, talking, wingers, defense, like everybody. I feel like, as a group collectively right now, we're moving as a five-man unit, making plays and coming up together."
On the game-winning goal he scored in overtime
"Juice won the draw for me. My face-off percentage might have been 10% tonight. So, he helped out a ton on the draw possession huge in overtime, and he won that back. Dewey gave me the puck. I saw, I think it was McCabe, there lose his balance, and I want to go take a shot. Bad shot. Juice got it back again. Dewey made a play to Juice. He gave it over to me. Set it up there and then Dewey made a nice play freezing the goalie and all I had to do is shoot it in the net."
On how the offense is coming together this fall recently
"I feel like at the start of the season, a little bit frustration creeped in. But over the last few games, we got our confidence back. Making plays again with each other and knowing where each other are. It took us a little bit, but we're feeling real confident."