April 2 Rapid Reaction (feat. Catherine Silverman): Kings 3, Coyotes 1

Rapid Reaction feat. Catherine Silverman

Post-game Quotes

Willie Desjardins, on Kyle Clifford’s late second period goal serving as a pivotal moment:
Yeah. That was a big goal for us. We hadn’t had a lot up ‘til that spot, and whenever you score really late in the period, I think it helps you coming into the next period.

Desjardins, on what Jack Campbell did well in a 49-save performance:
He’s really square to the puck. Like, he’s been square. They took lots of shots. Whenever they get a chance to put it on net, they do. But saying that, if your goalie’s not ready, they’re going to get something. But Campbell was really sharp tonight. He’s been good for us all year, if you look at his stats.

Desjardins, on drawing motivation from last night’s game and Arizona’s desperation:
I think what motivated us was the game last night. I didn’t think we were great in the third. I think we were disappointed with that effort. We knew coming these guys have been playing well, and they played well tonight. They put up lots, and our guys battled.

Desjardins, on doing more than just scoring goals:
Yeah, he’s been good. He never complains. Didn’t have a lot of minutes. Part of that is because he was out for 17 of ‘em. But all year he’s been a guy that’s contributed in whatever minutes he’s got, and he’s taken advantage of them, so it’s good to see he’s a great team guy. It was great he stuck up for Martinez, too. That was a huge thing for our team.

Jack Campbell, on a 49-save game against a team that is fighting to make playoffs:
I actually gave one up, but I mean they came out hard, but I thought our guys playing a back-to-back is never easy and obviously Arizona’s a real strong team and they put it to us, but we battled and competed and that’s what it’s all about and they might have got 50 shots, but I thought our guys played super hard in front of the net and tied up sticks and did a really good job on their top guys.

Campbell, on starting the third period with a lead:
That’s always nice and any time you get ahead in a game it’s always so much more fun to play in definitely. You can’t relax, that’s for sure, but you definitely have more confidence. It was just a really fun hockey game.

Campbell, on facing shots early on and from everywhere on the ice:
That’s true though. If you see pucks early and you stop them early it always helps. But to be able to find my rhythm early, but I thought our guys did a really good job in front of me trying up sticks and cleared my rebounds and just competed really hard on the wall against their guys and eliminated a lot of grade-A chances, so it was good.

Campbell, on if he remembers ever making that many saves before:
I only remember it today.

Campbell, on Lewis and Clifford both scoring tonight:
Oh man. Those guys are heart and soul of our team. They have been for years and not only, it’s always just such an amazing feeling as a group to see those guys get rewarded on the scoresheet because a lot of the things that they do that we appreciate isn’t on the scoresheet, so when they’re contributing on the scoresheet it’s always a big boost for us.

Campbell, on the physicality of tonight’s game:
He’s [Lawson Crouse] definitely a physical player and I thought their whole team played pretty physical tonight. They were definitely putting it all out on the line for their playoff push, but I thought our guys didn’t back down. Marty got crushed behind the net, but then he gets back up and he lays a big hit the next shift. That’s playoff hockey. Even though it’s been a disappointing year, it’s still fun to play against teams that are on their games down the stretch.

Campbell, on the pressure of performing well despite being out of the playoff race:
It’s easy to sit here and say it’s just for fun right now, but it’s the National Hockey League. There’s pressure and you’ve got to play well and perform and we expect to win. We’re extremely embarrassed and disappointed by this season and we expect to win every game, so there’s still a lot of pressure. But it’s definitely a lot of fun to kind of be the villains and try to eliminate teams from the playoffs.

Post-game Notes

— With the win, Los Angeles improved to 91-103-36 all-time against the Arizona franchise, a record that includes a road mark of 41-56-19. The Kings are 6-2-3 in their last 11 visits to Gila River Arena and finished the season series with a 2-2-0 record, with all games decided in regulation. Both teams scored eight goals in the four-game season series.

— With the win, Los Angeles improved to 21-22-5 against the Western Conference, 13-11-3 against the Pacific Division, 5-13 in two-goal games, 10-36-6 when their opponent scores first, 15-16-4 when tied after one period, 9-5-3 when tied after two periods and 18-24-6 when outshot by their opponent.

— Against teams they’ve faced in the playoffs this decade (New York, New Jersey, Arizona, San Jose, St. Louis, Chicago, Anaheim, Vancouver, Vegas), the Kings are 18-8-3. Against all other teams, they’re 12-33-6.

— Los Angeles allowed at least 50 shots in a game for the first time since December 13, 2010, a 5-0 win at Detroit in which Jonathan Quick stopped all 51 shots.

— With a 6-for-6 performance, the Kings have now killed off 10 consecutive power plays over the last three games.

— Los Angeles attempted 46 shots (24 on goal, 14 blocked, 8 missed). Arizona attempted 81 shots (50 on goal, 14 blocked, 17 missed). All Arizona skaters finished with at least one shot on goal and were led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who was credited with a game0high seven. Paul LaDue and Trevor Lewis tied with a team-high three shots on goal.

— The Kings won 25-of-56 faceoffs (45%). Adrian Kempe won 3-of-6, Michael Amadio won 5-of-8, Anze Kopitar won 10-of-21, Trevor Lewis won 1-of-2, Tyler Toffoli won 0-of-3 and Jeff Carter won 6-of-16.

Wednesday, April 3 is an off-day for the team. The next practice is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 4 at Toyota Sports Center.

Post-game Highlights

–Lead photo via Norm Hall/NHLI