The Carolina Hurricanes saw their eight-game point streak evaporate at the hands of the LA Kings as they lost 5-2 Monday evening at PNC Arena.
The Canes had a good game going through 40 minutes, but a couple of tough shifts in the third period saw the game get put out of reach.
Jordan Martinook and Jack Drury scored for Carolina while Yaniv Perets wound up making his NHL debut in relief for Antti Raanta.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Martinook and Perets spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game flipping at the start of the third period: Obviously that was the game. It was really, there was a penalty to end the second. Even though it wasn't a power play goal, they got in on it and we were trying to recover and that's what got them the goal. Kind of a weird bounce off the boards, but whatever. That's kind of where the momentum flipped. Then we had a few real bad shifts. And it was like boom, boom, boom in the net, game's over. That's what happens when you play a good team. There wasn't going to be much and we needed to capitalize on the ones we did get and we didn't. Their goalie played really well and made some good saves. They took advantage of it.
On putting Yaniv Perets in: Nothing on Raanta. Those are just... we know our situation here. Gave [Perets] a look. I don't know if he had too much, had a breakaway to start his NHL career, that's not good, but yeah, that was all.
On Justin Williams' night: I hate that we lost the game on Willy's night. That's going to eat me up for a little while here, but it wasn't a terrible game. We just had those couple of lapses. That's what happens in this league.
On line combinations: [Noesen and Drury and Jarvis and Martinook] have played really well. [Staal's] line always seems to be a good line and now you've added Jarvis there and he's playing well. Obviously a nice play on the goal. There's a lot that goes into lines. Sometimes you're just trying to find guys that are playing well or that have a little jump or whatever. Those guys you mentioned always seem to have that.
On the pre-game ceremony: It was nice. It was great. Looking back on it, he did a great job and it was very memorable. It was good.
On the power play: We had some good looks and their goalie made some good saves, but then we got away from that. We tried to do some other things instead of just taking what was there. We would have been able to just keep firing pucks, and they were blocking some, but that's what they're giving you. They're tight in there and you have to just keep shooting. I thought we got off it a little. It wasn't terrible. We got in and got some hits, we just didn't quite execute.
On starting the third flat: Tonight, I didn't like the way we came out, but it was predicated on being on the penalty kill and that was going back to the second period. There's a lot of things that go into it, but I think we were just a little off for a stretch and they made us pay.
Jordan Martinook
On the third period unraveling: I felt like we didn't have a ton of... just the jump coming out of intermission wasn't there. Then you give up three in what felt like two minutes and then you're chasing. I felt like after that we were pushing, but you're almost out of it by then. Tough one, that's for sure.
On having a three-game goal streak: I could score zero goals all year and if we win every game, I'm going to be happy. It is what it is.
On Yaniv Perets: Made a heck-of-a-save. Good for him and congratulations. You want to be in a win in that moment, but it's just cool for him to get his feet wet and that was a heck of a save.
On if the Kings' defense frustrated the team at all: We've been able to stick with it against teams like that, so I don't really know what happened for us to come off the gas. They were pushing there at the end of the second and it's not like they came out and did anything fancy or anything. It was just bang-bang and we were down three. We'll look at it and try and get better from there.
On Justin Williams: It was an unbelievable ceremony for a great guy. He's an emotional guy too. Obviously everybody's seen that. We wish we would have won for him, that's for sure, especially on his night, you want to remember a win, but I'm not taking anything away from that. It was a special, special night for him and his family and couldn't happen to a better guy.
Yaniv Perets
On making his NHL debut: Definitely a pretty special moment. I don't really have words. I just kind of want to call my parents or something and say thanks and stuff.
On Justin Willams' ceremony: That was a really beautiful ceremony also so that was nice to be a part of. Seeing everything he's done for this organization. The whole scene was just pretty beautiful.
On his save: Whatever happens, happens. You just have to be ready for whatever comes at you.
On what was going through his mind when he got the call: It's all just kind of a blur. Just had a smile on my face looking up at the stands and seeing the beautiful crowd and the beautiful atmosphere. It's just the moment you dream of as a kid. For me just walking in there it was like, 'Okay, let's go!' That was pretty much it for me. Just I appreciate the opportunity and I'm forever grateful and thankful for the Carolina organization and all the players in the room here. It just means the world to me and I'm just so thankful for the opportunity. Whatever it is, you take it and I'm just so grateful to have been there. So I can't thank them enough, my family, I can't thank them enough and all my loved ones.
On Antti Raanta: He just had a bit of a smile. That's what I noticed first thing. He played great. He played great also against Pittsburgh. He's a great guy and a great goalie too. It was nice just to give him a little high-five. He's a great guy and I have nothing but amazing things to say about him.
On what he'll say to his parents: I'm not sure. Probably just some tears, but I'll save that for them.