January 12 postgame quotes: Darryl Sutter

On whether the team’s structure was sound and “back to basics”:
I think we’ve been good X and O’s-wise lately. It’s just finding that little extra somewhere in there and getting a break, getting a big save when we need it.

On whether the game was an example of strong checking, defensive play and goaltending:
Well, it’s how we’re going to have to play. We’ve got some goals out of our lineup, so we’re going to have to play that way, for sure.

On what has allowed the Kings to suppress shots so well over the past month:
Try and keep the puck out of your zone and get the puck out of your zone as quick as you can when it is there. It still doesn’t add up for us, because if we’re just going on analytics, we’re right at the top. We should have more. It doesn’t really add up, so we’re going to have to even get better at it because with the goals out of our lineup and a little bit of inexperience on our back end, we’re going to still have to find ways to get better.

On whether Brayden McNabb played his best game as a King:
It didn’t jump out at me one way or the other. I think whoever’s playing with Drew is going to have to elevate their game. Really clear, because Drew has to be on the ice a lot, and obviously tonight he’s out there against one of those two lines all the time, so we’ll see Brayden and Muzz with Drew.

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