Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (3-3-3) led the game on the scoreboard on Saturday night against the Nashville Predators (4-3-2) for double-digit minutes into the third period. But the Kings only mustered one point last night in a 5-4 shootout loss to the Predators after allowing a goal with only a few minutes remaining on the scoreboard in the final frame.
Brandt Clarke and the Los Angeles Kings fall to the Nashville Predators in a shootout on the road
The Kings got a pretty well-rounded effort from all four forward lines and the top-six defensive core last night in Nashville. Key players deeper down the lines roster for the Kings, including Joel Armia, Trevor Moore, and Brandt Clarke each contributed in the offensive zone with impressive plays last night for the Kings vs. Nashville.
Clarke and Armia both had multiple points, including three combined assists in the game's second and third periods vs. Nashville. Moore scored the go-ahead goal for the Kings in the middle of the final frame in the third period.
Clarke and Moore spoke to the media to give their takeaways from the tough shootout loss to Nashville yesterday, postgame, after the 5-4 defeat.
This was the first game this regular season for the Kings that Clarke had multiple points this fall vs. Nashville. Moore also registered his third goal of the season for Hiller and the Kings up front.
Here's a look at everything Moore and Clarke said to the media postgame following the Kings' 5-4 shootout loss the Predators on the road on Oct. 25.
Trevor Moore
On his thoughts and takeaways from the loss to Nashville last night
"I think we’re still finding our way. That’s obviously a disappointing one; we felt like we had some good chances to win that game, and we let it slip. Back at it tomorrow."
On the mindset after getting at least one point vs. Nashville
"I think not being able to find ways to win in regulation right now is frustrating. It’s early in the season, we’re getting points and we’re finding our identity."
On how the Kings keep going after regulation in games early this season
"It felt like we were pretty competitive tonight. I thought that we carried play for a lot of it, scored four, maybe too many breakdowns on defense. Like I said, we’re finding our way, so just keep pushing."
On how all the Kings' forward lines played vs. Nashville
"Our Dallas game wasn’t the best, the best start anyway, so it was a big emphasis for us to have a good start. Perrs, Army and Turc really were great tonight, they drove us energy wise and that was great."
On the goal he scored in the third period vs. Nashville
"I thought we were working hard, winning a lot of battles, which is great and then obviously, shoutout to those guys again, Turc, Army and Perrs, those guys for getting them tired and forcing an icing and that gave us our time."
On Brandt Clarke's play vs. the Preds last night
"Yeah, he's dynamic. Thinks the game well. You know, he can open the hips with the best of them. It's fun to play with him."
Brandt Clarke
On his thoughts after the game vs. Nashville last night
"They played just exactly how we thought they'd play, and they were going to be on top of us, and we had chances to capitalize. It's unfortunate that some breakdowns led to goals for them. Overall, we were happy with how we moved the puck and how we got zone time and got on their forecheck. But I think a couple of breakdowns cost us, and we want to clean that up."
On if the Kings should've been able to win the game in regulation
"I mean, you'd like to hope so, looking back. I mean, you look at the whole 65 minutes. I think we were the better team. We we made, you know, we we possessed the puck more. We played the way we wanted to play. But that's the way it goes sometimes. You can't break down. You've got to play a full 60 minutes, and even one shift off can be costly. We all had moments like that, and we want to come back tomorrow night and fix it."
On the scoring chances the Preds converted on vs. the Kings
"We knew their D would be coming down the walls. We knew they were sending a lot of guys on our defense, and I think we just have to be more crisp, and we should know where our teammates are."
On how all the Kings' forward lines and defensive pairings played last night
"I think so. I think after the first period in the last game, Jimmy wasn't too happy with our start. So, we wanted to make it known that we're going to be flying right off the puck drop, especially with an off day yesterday. We're all rested. We wanted to make an emphasis on that, and I think we did. We're playing in their zone a lot. We did a lot of things we wanted to do. Just a few breakdowns here and there that costed us, and they capitalized."
On the players who attempted in the shootout for the Kings yesterday vs. the Preds
"You see them in practice sometimes, and you know some guys surprise you and stuff like that. It's always cool when different guys get put in that spot. It would have been even cooler if we had won the game. It's just the way it goes sometimes."
On the goal Trevor Moore scored in the third period
"We had a couple of set plays where we pick the wingers, and there'd be some space up top, and that's what happened there. [Foegele] had a really good play on the draw. We didn't win it cleanly, but he got in there and pushed it back to me then we had really good below the goal line plays and guys were working hard. Phil was at the net, and Moore was quick to bang that in. So, credit all around. That was a well-executed shift for sure."