The LA Kings were unable to erase a one-goal deficit in the third period and fell to the Utah Mammoth by a final score of 2-1 in a preseason contest Thursday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
In LA’s second-to-last exhibition action before the NHL regular season opens on Tuesday night the Kings held a 33-19 edge in shots on goal, but Alex Turcotte was the lone skater to beat Utah netminder Vitek Vanecek when he netted his second tally of the preseason during the second period.
Anton Forsberg made his second appearance of the preseason and turned out 17 of the 19 shots he saw, but was unable to come away with a victory. Vanecek earned the win for the Mammoth in their first home action of the preseason, stopping 32 opportunities.
Utah went in front first with the lone goal of the opening period when Kevin Stenlund got to the net and tipped a puck from the top of the crease past Forsberg off a feed by Lawson Crouse at 15:12 of the frame to make it 1-0.
LA responded in the opening moments of the second with good energy in the offensive zone, holding control of the play for the first two minutes. That pressure eventually led to Samuel Helenius taking advantage of soft coverage to find an open Turcotte in the slot. Turcotte buried the look up high with a quick release to even up the game at 1-1, 3:09 into the frame.
But Utah went back in front and made it 2-1 three minutes later when a shot by Crouse from beyond the left circle found its way through Anton Forsberg at 6:11. The third goal of the contest ended up being the game-winner.
The Kings had a great chance to even things up again later in the second when they earned a 5-on-3 man-advantage for 46 seconds after consecutive infractions to Nick DeSimone and Nate Schmidt. They mustered three shots on goal but were unable to solve Vanecek during the opportunity.
LA earned an 11-5 advantage in shots during the second and a 13-7 edge in the third which consisted of their highest number of opportunities, but couldn’t get any closer despite holding Utah off the board.
Neither club converted on the man-advantage in the contest, with the Kings going 0-for-3 on the power play while holding the Mammoth to an 0-for-1 mark.
Postgame thoughts from Turcotte and defender Brian Dumoulin, as well as head coach Jim Hiller are below.
Alex Turcotte
On the opportunity he’s had in the preseason and how he’s feeling with his game
This was my fourth game so yeah, I feel really good. I feel each game I’ve gotten better too, and more comfortable, and just getting the details down and the systems and stuff, you kind of forget about a little bit in the summer. It’s been good to get into a bunch of games and yeah obviously I want the real thing to start soon as possible, because, I feel like I’m playing well.
On his transition back and forth from center to wing
It’s good to be able to do that and have the coaches trust for that. I’m pretty comfortable on wing now too because of last season, so wasn’t too worried about it tonight, and I felt pretty comfortable. And I feel comfortable at center too, so it’s good.
On his goal and the pass from Helenius
I mean, nobody was on me. He made a great play, [Armia] had a great screen in front. So, yeah, I was just hoping he would get it to me and obviously, he did. He made a nice little pass and I was thinking shot the whole time.
On the development of Samuel Helenius the last three years
Off the ice, I think he was a little bit more quiet before, obviously having to learn the language a little bit. Now, he’s a goofball. I’ve definitely gotten pretty close with him, and it’s cool to see like his true personality come out. He’s grown a lot in that regard, and as a player too, he brings a lot of size, tenacity, he’s tough, and he can make plays. I think he’s just getting more comfortable each year. I know it’s probably a difficult adjustment. I mean, I’ve never been through it, obviously. Leaving your home country, the lifestyle, the game, the ice is a lot smaller so it’s been awesome to see, and I’m really happy for him.
Brian Dumoulin
On the defensive game the team was able to play in the loss
I think that’s definitely one of things that we stress, is not giving up any high danger chances against. Obviously, in that first we gave up a few inner-slot shots, and I think obviously we just have to take care of the puck a little bit more. I thought our game got better as the game went on. But it was good to get back in a game.
On how he is feeling during the preseason
It was good to play with majority of the team and see their games on the ice, obviously in game mode, and just obviously have to keep getting better throughout camp and this next one before we start the season.
On his focus, coming over to a new team after signing as a free agent
I think just understanding my teammates, defensive partner, kind of who I’m playing with, and different reads, and going through different things, faceoff plays, all the system, neutral zone, and just getting your feel for it. I mean, it’s a little bit different than what I’m used to. But I mean it comes, it’s just reps, and you just got to be out there playing. It’s not going to be perfect off the start, but I just want to get familiar with it as quick as I can, and learn my teammates, their tendencies, their games, and go from there.
On the opportunity to finish the preseason at home on Saturday
That’s definitely nice. I mean, obviously it’s whole different feel going to Crypto and feeling that game rink, and going through your pregame routine, and getting into that routine. Obviously, we play a lot there so I’m excited for it. I know they just did a lot of renovations. I still haven’t really seen it as a home player, so I’m excited to see it.
Jim Hiller
His overall thoughts on how his team played in the game
Well, first period, we really didn’t play well at all. That was our worst. I liked that I thought we got better as it went on so that was the most important part for us. Played with a little bit more jam, NHL, get ready for the season. This team had only played most of these guys once, couple guys twice. So that was the positive for sure. And then Venecek played pretty good.
On what he saw from his power play during the 5-on-3
You’d like to have more and you’d like to see one find the back of the net. We haven’t worked on five-on-three yet, so that was a pretty good opportunity for us to do it there. I mean, again, I’d probably be pretty disappointed if we were game one at this stage, but these are reps, and you know, we got to get better there too.
On the play of Turcotte and his versatility
Well, he’s just good, and that started last year with him. I give him so much credit. We had him everywhere, and you know, I talked to him before the game. He just knows he’s going to be centered some nights, wing some nights he might be on the fourth line, he might be up. And he’s really, really matured and really found a groove for himself where, nothing rattles him. He’s just ready to get out on the ice and do the job. Sammy made a nice play on that goal too. I thought that line was pretty solid.
On Samuel Helenius and the growth in his game during the preseason
Sammy has just been terrific. What I love about Sammy is that he knows his job. No one has said oh, Sammy’s not playing hard tonight, or Sammy’s not finishing checks, or Sammy’s not winning faceoffs or giving 100% effort. He’s a guy, it’s what we call low maintenance as a coach, he’s got it figured out at a young age, and he’s just going to get better and better. He came in, and maybe he was too heavy, and then he was too light, and now he’s just kind of found himself. And I think, for a bigger player, and he’s still so young, it takes some time for everything to kind of start feeling put together and athletic, and what’s surprised me is how quickly that’s happened for him. I thought it would take him a little longer, but he’s very athletic now his hands, he’s making plays. We’re all really excited about his future for the Kings.
On knowing that the final preseason will be home at Crypto.com Arena
I think we’re ready for it. We’ve got a new dressing room, I guess. So that’s going to be new. So it’s good to get one game in that new surroundings. I’m sure the guys are going to be wowed by how nice it is. So we’ll get that out of the way. Anaheim I think will bring a pretty good team in so I think it should be a good hockey game. And then here we go.