January 19 Rapid Reaction (feat. Alex Faust): Avalanche 7, Kings 1

Rapid Reaction, feat. Alex Faust

Post-game Quotes

Willie Desjardins, on the second period breakdowns:
Well, we took a penalty with one second left in the [first] that we didn’t need to take. It just went over the glass, so it wasn’t anybody – but they scored on that power play. And they got one right after that, and then we got on our heels and they got a power play and all of a sudden the game’s away from us. Yeah, it was a disappointing game. I thought Quick played good in the first period and kept us in there and gave us a chance, and I thought we might come back. I thought we might get our legs going, but they played well tonight. That big line was hard to handle.

Desjardins, on whether anything suggested the team was due for this type of performance:
I don’t think so. If there was anything, it was probably Colorado was due. They hadn’t been on top of their game, and they were going to come hard. They got a shorty, and a power play [goal], so kind of everything that could go wrong with our team went wrong tonight.

Desjardins, on learning a lot from players late in blowouts, and whether anything stuck out:
Well, it was good to see Phaneuf step up. Doughty was good throughout. Like, there are guys in there that take a lot of pride in what they do. Sometimes it doesn’t show in games, but it doesn’t mean it’s not there. That’s a proud group in there, and they’ll rebound against St. Louis.

Anze Kopitar, on being down by only one goal after the first period:
Went out into the second being down one goal — you know, nothing was lost yet — and give up six goals in fifteen minutes. It’s obviously not good.

Kopitar, on whether the loss was due to a lack of emotional investment or the team being stretched out when pressing:
It was definitely a little bit of both cases.

Kopitar, on how the team moves forward after a big loss:
There’s one more game on Monday and we’ve got to get ready and, I don’t know how long, how much time we’ve got off, but each and every one of us has to make sure that we’re ready for the puck drop on Monday.

Drew Doughty, on what he would attribute the loss to:
Well we weren’t good in the first. We started off bad, so we came in here at the intermission and were like, ‘Alright, let’s pick it up. Now we let them play their game, it’s time to play our game.’ So we went out there and we went out there and we had a power play to start it off. We didn’t execute at all and the power play didn’t get any chances and then all of the sudden they scored and it just started goal, after goal, after goal. I thought we’re all trying to do the right things. We’re working hard and we’re competing but we’re not executing and there’s so many things you can do to execute. You know, guys can talk more. I think that’s the main thing. We need to help each other out more. It was just a pathetic second period. I really don’t even know what to say. Yeah, they played well, but we just played poor and we left our goalies out to dry again and we’re sick of doing that. When we win games, we leave them out to dry. When we lose games, we usually leave them out to dry. So it’s about time we play for them.

Doughty, on whether seeing Quick struggle increases his frustration:
I didn’t see that. But it doesn’t matter who’s in net. Whether it’s Quickie or Soupy, if we get our goalie pulled, that’s on the players in front of ‘em and we feel that immediately. And I didn’t see Quickie storm off, but we obviously feel terrible about that and then we just played like crap right in front of Soupy. He comes in and has to take […] two-on-ones and three-on-one. Yeah, it’s just a pathetic game for us.

Doughty, on whether it was “dead quiet” in the room after the second period:
Oh no. No. Well, we’d said so much before the game and in the first intermission that when we came in for the second I think there was a little bit of talk, but there’s not much more you can say. Just comes down to the will to compete and execute and want to win. Yeah, it’s just embarrassing. And we had a chance to have a great trip and get five of six points and we were really hungry before this game, we felt good, and to just go out there and play like crap, it sucks.

Doughty, on this being the seventh time this team has lost by at least four goals this season:
Yeah, you know what, I forgot to mention this too — I said we’re not executing, but we’re not taking care of the puck. We’re just giving pucks away in the neutral zone and then it’s a three-on-two like this with our D flat-footed and then the D aren’t able to do their job and play the three-on-two the right way and therefore they’re getting chances. So we’re just not executing. We’re turning pucks over at the top of our circles to our blue line and we’re turning pucks over all the way from the neutral zone all the way to their zone. So if we don’t stop turning pucks over, we’re going to lose every single game. We need to execute and we need to take better care of the puck.

Post-game Notes

–With the loss, Los Angeles fell to 70-52-12 all-time against the Colorado franchise, a record that includes an away mark of 30-32-4. The Kings dropped the season series, 1-2-0, and was outscored by a combined 16-7.

–With the loss, Los Angeles fell to 13-15-2 against the Western Conference, 5-7-1 against the Central Division, 8-15 in games decided by three or more goals, 5-22-3 when allowing the first goal, 2-16-2 when trailing after one period, 0-21-1 when trailing after two periods and 12-17-3 when outshot by their opponent.

–The Kings lost by at least four goals for the seventh time in 49 games this season. They allowed six goals in one period for the first time since an 8-3 loss at the New York Rangers on December 15, 1999.

–The only Los Angeles player to not be on the ice for a goal against was Alec Martinez. Jeff Carter also drew an even rating but was on the ice for Mikko Rantanen’s power play goal.

–The Kings attempted 55 shots (31 on goal, 14 blocked, 10 missed). The Avalanche attempted 71 shots (40 on goal, 20 blocked, 11 missed). All Colorado skaters other than Erik Johnson, who appeared in 2:01 and left with an injury, and Patrik Nemeth registered a shot on goal. Carl Soderberg led all skaters with five shots on goal, while Drew Doughty, Kyle Clifford, Carl Hagelin and Tyler Toffoli tied with a team-high four.

–Los Angeles won 28-of-60 faceoffs (47%). Adrian Kempe won 3-of-10, Anze Kopitar won 14-of-23, Dustin Brown won 0-of-1, Nate Thompson won 6-of-11 and Jeff Carter won 5-of-15.

The Kings are scheduled to practice at Toyota Sports Center at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 20. Should that change, it will be updated upon the team’s arrival at LAX Saturday evening.

Post-game Highlights

–Lead photo via Michael Martin/NHLI