With three assists in the Kings 6-2 win on Thursday night vs. San Jose, Drew Doughty had his biggest offensive contribution of the season.

Kuznetsov scored a power play goal and had three assists to power the Washington Capitals to a 5–2 win against the Vegas Golden Knights in a rematch of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final at Capital One Arena on October 10, 2018. Of his performance, teammate T.J. Oshie said: 'I think Kuznetsov is up there with the top five players in the League. The latest in Philippine sports news plus up-to-date info on top international teams and athletes in basketball, football, boxing, MMA and other sports.

After the final buzzer, not only was he smiling, the Kings top defenseman was also in an optimistic and talkative mood. Here’s what he shared:

On the importance of the first period and starting strong

The start was important, even the first shift we had a lot of, the coaches put a lot of attention on that first shift because we gave one up on the first shift last game, so we wanted to have a good start. After we did have that first good shift the lines just kept rolling and rolling over and we’ve kept them in hemmed in their own zone a few times and got a three-goal lead I believe in the first so that’s all good.

On turning his game around and how he is feeling

I’m feeling good, it’s nice for them to give me the day yesterday and be able to get ready for tonight. In this shortened of a season all that really matters is the games. I mean, obviously practice is important, but when you’re playing every other day, you just got to be ready for the games, so that was good that the training staff and the coaches allowed me to do that, and they helped me through it all yesterday. I was ready to go today. I felt good and honestly, I just passed the puck to some guys and they put in the net, so it was all them not me.

On if this was one of his best games of the year

Honestly, no. I was fighting the puck, the ice was crap, puck was rolling on me a lot. Therefore, I wasn’t able to make the plays I’m usually able to make. I thought I was alright tonight, but I did not think it was even close to that game in Minnesota, but the team was so much better tonight that maybe it appeared that way.

Drew Doughty factored on three of the @LAKings’ six goals to record his ninth career three-assist game – only seven active defensemen have more. #NHLStatspic.twitter.com/M6R0TMh3Gr

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) February 12, 2021

On if the powerplay is the biggest improvement from last year to this year

Yes, 100%. Even throughout my 12 years here in LA, when we go out on that ice, I mean I’ve always had confidence we’re going to score in the past too, but when you go out on that ice right now, you just really feel it. We have threats from every single position, and again, not like I’m saying we didn’t in the past, we did, but I don’t know, there’s just a different feeling. We feel dialed in, we feel connected, Todd’s so good at coaching and [Marco Sturm, Assistant Coach] on the power play, we put a lot of emphasis on it whereas maybe back in the day, we did have a lot of emphasis on it, but playing good defense and playing good five-on-five hockey was more of it. Powerplays been great, every single guy is doing their job, and we need to keep doing it in order to win games.

On applying more pressure in the third period, and any discussion in the second intermission

We’ve blown a lot of third period leads this year. If you want to be a good team in the NHL, you have to learn how to seal the deal when you have the lead and finish the game off. Before we went out there, the coaches, the leadership we all spoke up just reiterating how important it was to learn how to win games in the third period and the boys came out buzzing and dominated the third period, so very proud of the group.

On so many young defensemen in the lineup tonight

All of them were great tonight, all six D. Playing with Mikey is great. For a young guy, he’s very smart in his own end and with the puck. And he talks a lot, which for a young guy, you don’t usually see. As his partner, I appreciate that so much, how much he talks, it’s amazing. Strander has looked awesome. I didn’t really know what to expect since I hadn’t seen him play in a game before and he’s looked awesome out there. He looks like he’s been in the league for a couple years. Toby, we all know how good Toby is and how good he’s gonna be. He’s still so young and he looks like he’s been out there for a long time too. The sky is the limit for that kid. Then, Olli and Claguer looked great too tonight. [We} switched up the pairs a little bit. Deremy’s been good too, it’s unfortunate to see him out, but we were losing, so we switched them up a little bit and it worked, so everyone on the backend was great tonight.

On the communication with Anderson throughout the game

Mikey is calling for the puck. He’s telling me I have time, telling me I have a man on. He likes discussing things himself on the bench too, asking if he should have done something different or he’ll even tell me maybe I should have done something different too – which you don’t see a lot in young guys, but I love that because I don’t want him to be nervous playing with me. I want him to have fun playing with me. I want him to enjoy it. I love directing everything out there. That’s one of the best parts of my game. Any partner I’ve ever played with is gonna tell you the reason they love playing with me so much is because of how much I talk. It’s something I learned at a young age from my dad and It’s something I try to teach all the young guys immediately.

More postgame comments linked below.

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Lead photo via Getty Images / LA Kings

No doubt, the Kings arrived in Minnesota looking to put their two OT losses to the Wild from last week behind them. They owed that team, if you will. And tonight, LA not only scored the first goal of the game (a first this season), they also closed out the game late and came away with a 2-1 win.

Following the final buzzer, here’s what Cal Petersen had to share:

On the blocked shots by Alex Iafallo and Mikey Anderson in the final minute of play

I think any big win where there’s a scramble at the end or the team pulls the goalie, I think you can always key that to big blocks as a reason that the puck never gets to me. The further away it is from me the better. Anytime guys sacrifice their bodies, that’s when you have the right guys on the ice and guys that want to win it all costs. Those are huge blocks and we’ll take them and that’s the reason that we win hockey games there at the end.

On if he felt calmer in net, more in control, tonight versus his previous start

I approached at the same way. I think it’s more so building with each game. It’s been a while since we played hockey and I think any game experience I can get I’m just trying to get better with each game. I think so far in the season, each performance set up before, I felt like I’ve been a little better each performance and now things are starting to come together a little bit. To be able to win is the main thing, anytime I can do that I feel confident in my game.

On if the prep work he does before games is more about watching his last game or preparing for the team he’ll be facing

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It’s both. Anytime I play I like to digest the game with [Bill Ranford] the goalie coach and we go over stuff. Watching it again and take the emotion out of it, and either you feel better about the game or worse about the game, but either way you’re learning from it. That’s something I like to do and then that’s usually a day or so before the game and then the day of the game it’s all about the team that we’re playing and preparing for whatever we’re gonna face because there’s different teams that bode well for different styles and stuff yet to be aware of. To your question, it’s a little bit of both it just kind of falls on different days.

On if he thought he had the allowed goal covered under his pad

I don’t think it was a matter of it being covered. I think it was more so whether the guy pushed my leg in. That play in general is kind of tough for any goalie. When your skates up against the post there’s a little bit of a gap there and it’s a vulnerable spot to get in. I think it could have it could have gone either way. It’s gonna be hard for me to get that call. It’s just one of those things that you kind of have to put more of your body in front of that and make sure it’s fully sealed so you can withstand if you catch a couple whacks or whatever so that’s something I’ll get a little bit stronger on moving forward.

On the importance of killing the penalty after losing the challenge

It was huge. It could have been the turning point of the game. It was actually a rule that I didn’t really realize, I was kind of confused why one of our guys is going to the box. After that it was understood but it’s a gamble, but we have really smart guys looking at the video and I don’t think we would do that unless we’re sure or had a case in it and unfortunately the side we saw on the other side, but then it’s up to me and the other killers to kill it off. It’s just part of the deal, it’s designed to get a few more goals I guess. It is what it is, and I’m glad that we battled and killed it off and were able to win the game.

More postgame comments linked below.

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