The discipline issues with the penalty kill for the Los Angeles Kings (1-2-1) nearly doomed the team to a multi-goal loss to the Minnesota Wild (2-1-0) in Saint Paul on Monday night (Oct. 13). The Wild scored three goals against the Kings in a span of under four minutes in the game's first period, all coming on the power play.
Drew Doughty and the Los Angeles Kings grab one point from a road shootout loss vs. the Minnesota Wild on Monday
But veteran defenseman Drew Doughty and the Kings' power play helped to lead to the team back, scoring three straight goals in clutch time in the third period to come all the way back and push the game to a shootout.
Quinton Byfield scored the goal on the power play on special teams in the third period to get the Kings back within a one-goal margin on the scoreboard late in the game. Byfield finished up the game with one goal and one assist, both coming in the third period when the Kings tied it up on the scoreboard to send the contest into overtime.
Both Byfield and Doughty registered at least one point for the Kings in the close 4-3 shootout loss to the Wild last night.
Byfield and Doughty gave their thoughts on the Kings' 5-on-5 play, discipline issues, and the slow start to the first period last night following the shootout loss to the Wild.
Here's a look at everything Doughty and Byfield said to the media following the Kings' 4-3 shootout loss to the Wild on the road on Oct. 13.
Drew Doughty
On the Kings fighting in the third period to comeback to get a point
"That was great. Our team never gives up. We've shown that over and over and over. That's what's one of the greatest things about our team. We never thought we were out of the game. Three nothing's a big deficit and we just started playing the right way. It was penalties tonight that was the killer. Obviously you talk about the penalties."
On the discipline issues for the Kings early this season
"First off, we need to stay out of the box. Way too many kills. It's killing the vibe. One of our strengths is rolling four lines and three or three pairs, and once you get penalties, the momentum goes away. So, we probably need to start killing off more obviously, but the biggest part is just not taking them."
On playing on a defensive pairing with Brian Dumoulin
"We thought we were pretty money tonight. Besides one mistake I had in the first, we didn't give up anything, and we were creating chances and moving the puck well. A lot of O-zone shifts and stuff like that. So, I thought we were great together, and I really enjoyed playing with him."
On what the message was in the locker room after the first period vs. Minnesota
"Stop taking penalties. Let's give up no more goals and let's just play hockey, and we believe we can come back."
On splitting up the pairing with him and Mikey Anderson
"Yeah, it seems, especially tonight, I thought both pairs played well. Pairs played well. It's definitely a good thing for a team that we can move guys around and play with different pairs. It's only one game and we got to continue to show it."
Quinton Byfield
On the Kings' rally for the comeback in the third period vs. Minnesota
"It was good on us, for sure, but we can’t put ourselves in those holes. We’re taking too many penalties and I might be the main guy, I’ve taken a ton. So, that’s something that we’ve got to fix and you can’t be in those holes, but obviously it’s good resilience to get that point back. It’s better to take one point back than nothing."
On how to fix the discipline and penalty issues for the team
"It’s early season, they’re looking to call a lot of penalties but we’re not making it easy on ourselves either. There’s just some stick checking, we’ve just got to be a little bit more ready, battle a little bit more, move our feet and maybe get rid of some of those. Other than that, every game we’ve played 5-on-5, I feel like we’ve outplayed the other teams, so we’ve just got to clean that up."
On the goal on the power play in the third period
"I just saw Juice just kind of walking down far side there, I just wanted to kind of push away from the defenders. He made a hard pass and I just tried putting it on net. I think I went low, far side, so it was lucky, but that was a big one for us. It was good for the power play."
On working in the bumper spot on the power play for the Kings unit
"I think it's in a good spot. You know, I feel like I can have some freedom there and move around, just find little shots there. Even in the second period, Kopi found me in the middle, and I had some time there. I should have got one off there, too. They're making some good plays. I just got to bury a couple more there."
On building on the even strength play on 5-on-5
"I think it’s just, honestly, it’s when we put our head down and we just went to work. We got it behind them and we just forechecked and that’s when we kind of started turning the tide. Then everything else opened up, so I think we just have to start with that."