Offensive and power play struggles on special teams have cost head coach Jim Hiller and the Los Angeles Kings (12-8-7) multiple points in the standings in the West in the Pacific Division in early December this month. The Kings dropped a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks (12-9-6) at home at Crypto.com Arena after falling behind by multiple goals after the game’s first two periods last night.
Los Angeles Kings and Jim Hiller suffer another home loss while struggling on home ice offensively
The boost that the Kings got from the return of defenseman Drew Doughty and forward Warren Foegele to the active roster lineup yesterday against the Blackhawks didn’t help the team get back on the right side of the win column.
Hiller spoke about his frustrations and reactions to the media after the Kings’ one-goal, sluggish loss to the Blackhawks yesterday.
The Kings and Hiller now have a two-game losing streak on home ice at Crypto.com Arena this week, going into the second of two matchups in this series against the Blackhawks late this week and this weekend.
Here’s a look at everything Hiller said to the media postgame following the Kings’ grinding 2-1 loss to the Blackhawks at home on Dec. 4.
Jim Hiller
On his reaction to the loss to Chicago yesterday for the Kings
“The first period was terrible and that might be polite. Second period, we had a stretch of maybe six minutes. The third period, we pushed hard; it might have worked, but we gave them way too much the other way, despite that.”
On how the team played last night vs. Chicago
“We had a team of players tonight, and I’m trying to think of, I’m sure there were a few exceptions, usually it’s the other way. I’m sure there were a few exceptions. We had a team of players tonight that thought that they were going to play the game their way, how they wanted to play it.
We play a really demanding style of hockey on the players, and they do an exceptional job of it, have done it for years, and there always looks like there could be a more exciting and sexy way to do it. I think you saw players try and play that game through, at least most of the first 40 minutes, and I think you saw a pretty clear result in that style of hockey for our team in particular.”
On the team showing frustration with the offensive struggles recently this fall
“There’s some for sure, but for the most part, we’ve stuck with it and stayed the course. If I would’ve seen this game two weeks ago and then maybe a decent game and then this game again, then I would say absolutely, absolutely, but no, I think our guys have stuck with it.
I’m sure they’re not happy, and they want more. We’re all humans here, but again, I would first off give them credit for being able to be mentally focused and being able to consistently play a good, honest, hard, structured game, except tonight, tonight was that was not in their mind. That’s that was really obvious to me early.”
On the hit on Adrian Kempe in the third period yesterday
“It’s a dirty hit. I better be careful, but the guy’s going this way into the boards and gets hit this way head first into the board. It’s pretty self-explanatory for me.”
On how Phillip Danault played on a different line yesterday vs. Chicago for the offense for the Kings
“I think the whole team, I can tell you right now, is pulling for Phil, the whole team. I thought he just had a couple good chances, five good chances tonight, it wasn’t just those other ones, he had a couple shots from the slot. I’ll tell you, everybody’s excited, the whole bench, guys want him to score, we all do. Despite that, I thought he had his best game of the year tonight, I really did, all over the ice, and he really played well. Credit to him.”
On the struggles for the power play, going 0-for-5 vs. Chicago yesterday night
“We didn’t like it before and maybe we were better before than we are now. We got frustrated when we were 16, 17, 18 percent and over the last while, trying to tweak it, trying to change, trying to work on it, we haven’t got any results from that whatsoever. That’s disappointing, extremely.”