Adrian Kempe pushed to get the Los Angeles Kings (22-17-13) back in the game on the scoreboard in the middle frame in the second period on Jan. 29 in a road loss in the East on this road trip this week vs. the Buffalo Sabres (31-17-5) on Thursday night. The Kings had some tough and controversial calls go against them in the middle frame yesterday on the road.
Los Angeles Kings can't get back in the game vs. Buffalo after a second-period goal from Adrian Kempe in a 4-1 road loss Thursday evening
Thanks to a big push in the middle frame and final frame in the third period in clutch time, Kempe and the Kings seemingly played well enough on the ice yesterday to keep pace with the Sabres on the road in Buffalo on the scoreboard. But the Kings weren't able to bounce back after tough blows and bad calls, including a bad bounce deflecting off defenseman Cody Ceci's skate in the opening frame in the first period.
Ceci and Kempe gave their thoughts to the media yesterday after the tough 4-1 loss on the road in Buffalo for the Kings to snap a three-game winning streak and a six-game point streak in the West this week.
The Kings had a chance to get more goals on the scoreboard in this game in the middle frame and the final frame in the third period yesterday vs. Buffalo.
Here's a look at everything Kempe and Ceci said to the media postgame following the Kings' dispiriting 4-1 road loss in Buffalo vs. the Sabres on Jan. 29 on this road trip in the East late this week.
Adrian Kempe
On his thoughts from the loss to Buffalo yesterday
"I think overall we played pretty well. I think the first period was pretty even. A couple unfortunate bounces. I think tough being down two nothing early. Second period, I think we did a really good job pushing back. One goal called back. So that's a tough one. And then they come out, and they score three nothing. And then you know it's a bigger bigger uh mountain to climb for us.
I think we did a really good job trying to push back. We had our chances. Just tough nut in general. Puck didn't really go in for us or bounce the way we wanted to, but overall I don't think we played poorly or anything. I think we played pretty solid, so we take that with us."
On what he saw and heard from the disallowed goal vs. Buffalo
"The explanation I got was that he needs time to reset before they called it a goalie interference, obviously, and he needs time to reset before we can call it a goal, and that's what they told us. I think we felt that he had time to reset since he made the save on the first initial shot and then Laf bang it in on the rebound. Tough play to challenge, not really sure exactly what the rule says there. But, that was pretty much what they told us."
On how the goal could've flipped momentum in the middle frame in the second period for the Kings vs. Buffalo
"Especially in the second period, once we got the one-three goal, I think we really took over. I think we had some really good chances in the second there. A couple pucks bouncing around on the goal line there and stuff. We got one more there. Hopefully, a better outcome and more confident going into the third period, being down one goal, not two. I think that was probably the biggest difference in the game, not coming out with another goal in the second period."
On the goal he scored in the second period vs. Buffalo yesterday
"I just read it in the moment. I've been playing in the middle a little bit more. Been trying to get a little bit more tips and stuff like that on the puck. They had a guy break their stick. So, I just tried to try to improvise and hop in the middle there. Kevin made a great play, and Perrs had a great screen in front. It was just for me to deflect it."
Cody Ceci
On his thoughts from the loss to Buffalo yesterday
"Frustrating game. They got a lucky bounce early and we had some looks and didn’t capitalize. We didn’t play terrible but we’ve still got to find a way to win the game."
On what he saw and heard from the disallowed goal vs. Buffalo
"We were talking about a little bit after the fact and we thought that he had enough time to reset. I’m not sure on the ruling orhow that all goes. Our guys felt like it was still goal interference, I think."
On how the goal could've flipped momentum in the middle frame in the second period for the Kings vs. Buffalo
"The game’s a different game if we get that one to go and the game’s 2-1. We get some more momentum. Unfortunately, it shifts their way right afterwards and then we’re chasing the game even more. I think if we get that one in our favor, then it is a different game, but it’s the way goes sometimes."
On the unlucky bounce on the goal that went in off his skates yesterday
"There’s so much game left after that, you don’t want to play terrible rest of the game. Yeah, it’s a bad feeling. Obviously a lucky bounce by them, but still a bad feeling."