LA Kings
Kings Locker Room: ‘Enough was Enough’ According to Danault & McLellan on Quick
Hear from Phil Danault, Jonathan Quick, Rasmus Kupari and McLellan.
The Los Angeles Kings got back into the win column Friday beating the New York Islanders 3-2.
And as important, they proved they could hold onto a lead.
Todd McLellan and his players have talked at length about the team's inability to hold a lead recently. And Friday, they were finally able to talk about executing.
Hear from Phil Danault, Jonathan Quick, Rasmus Kupari and McLellan.
Danault on what the team was focusing on when playing with a lead:
Enough was enough at some point. We are all good players here, we can all play defense and we have to learn how to keep playing with the lead. And we played a little better tonight, we were more on our toes than sitting back too much. We did the job and Quickie was awesome.
On what he liked about the game overall:
We kept playing in the third and that's a big part. We weren't too afraid, little details we can be better. I thought it was better, we learned a little bit from the last game and we have to keep building on those types of leads we get in the first and second and win more games.
On his goal:
I actually tipped the (shot) from Arvy and then he (Alexander Romanov) tipped it into his own net. Sometimes you go to the front of the net and you get rewarded. I've been going there the last couple games and it wasn't going in and tonight, going back at it again in front of the net, I got rewarded.
Quick on taking sole possession of the third-most wins by an American goalie:
I mean, I immediately think of just the great teams I've been a part of. Teammates, coaches, everyone that's had some influence on those wins. So, very grateful to be able to spend this many years with a great group of guys.
On what he liked about how the team closed out the game in the third period:
I mean, we played that way all night. We checked hard all night and we know the way they play, we knew we had to check the proper way to give ourselves a chance. And we did that really well tonight.
Kupari on what he liked about how his line played:
I think we had a lot of pace today in our game. Forechecked hard, got puck backs that way, had a couple chances, and obviously scored one goal which is huge.
On if there was any message from the coaching staff after a tough game the night before:
Not really, but we all knew we gave up two goals, that can't happen and we've got to be better. I think this was a really good game from us and a good step up after last game.
On what he saw for his assist on Arthur Kaliyev's goal:
Just realized it was a two-on-one, I kind of knew Arty was there but I wanted to pass it to him. Fake shot and pass it to him and good finish by Arty.
On embracing his role as a penalty killer:
It's huge, huge for me. Obviously, I get a little more ice time and an honor, that tells me that coaches trust me in those kinds of situations. I just try and if we want to win game the PK is a huge part of it.
McLellan on the importance of a bounce-back game from the fourth line:
I was hard on the fourth line after yesterday's game, today they get kudos to them. They played a really strong game, both sides of the puck. They were fast, won faceoffs, Kup penalty killed. Arthur and Kup connected on the goal, JAD (Jaret Anderson-Dolan) being involved. They were a big, big part of the win tonight and the only way we survive is by having four lines. So, I give them a lot of credit.
On what he liked about how the team closed out the game in the third period:
Well, as you know, its been a bit of an issue for us over the last little bit. It still got tense, but sometimes you can't do much about a bad luck play. They scored their second off the foot, nothing we can do in that situation. But, I was most impressed by what happened after that. We stayed calm, we checked very well, we blocked shots, won faceoffs, got the clears when we needed too. Got off the ice when we needed to and got fresh guys on. We played like a team that can win in those situations.
On the impact of Quick winning another game:
He's got three wins in a row now, so that's a big boost for his confidence and our confidence in him. We never disbelieved in him, it's just that Coper (Pheonix Copley) was winning a lot of games. But Quickie worked hard, he worked on his game and he's pinched hit well in the last couple games and in tough situations. Tonight was one of them and we're happy for him.