Kings’ Viktor Arvidsson on Kevin Fiala: ‘He’s a world-class player. He can boost any lineup’
EDMONTON, Alberta — It was 22 days between games but the way Kings forward Kevin Fiala played in his return to the lineup in Game 4, it looked more like two days.
If that.
Fiala, who had two primary assists in the Kings’ 5-4 overtime loss to the Edmonton Oilers in Game 4, provided the spark they needed in this first-round playoff series, facing Oilers stars Connor McDavid and Leon Draistail. His impact was evident to the Kings’ players and coaching staff months ago.
“Right from Day 1, not playoffs but regular season,” Kings coach Todd McLellan said.
McLellan was talking after Tuesday’s morning skate at Rogers Place, hours before Game 5. After March 9, when Fiala was injured on a knee-on-knee hit from Colorado forward Andrew Cogliano, Fiala played in just three more regular-season games, the last coming on April 1.
“We’re a team that plays pretty good defensively and lacked that star power maybe that could break a game open,” McLellan said. “He’s proven that to us, game in and game out during the regular season. It’s great to have him back. Dynamic player. He can play anywhere up and down the lineup. And we missed him the last two months, or month, anyhow.
“Having that combination – of (Gabe) Vilardi and Fiala together on our third line – maybe gained an advantage. Him coming back was really good for our team.”
Not many teams have the luxury of putting their second-leading scorer, in Fiala, and his 72 regular-season points on the third line with Vilardi and Alex Iafallo.
“He plays with a lot of confidence,” Kings forward Viktor Arvidsson said. “He needs to do that to be good. And he does it every night. It doesn’t matter if he is out four weeks or out for a day or two. He comes back and plays the way he can.
“He’s a world-class player. He can boost any lineup.”
Fiala’s two assists in Game 4 came during the Kings’ three-goal first period and he logged nearly 22 minutes of ice time. “It felt good, just the wind (conditioning) was missing,” he said.
There was no way he was going to be eased back into the lineup.
“In Kevin’s case, it’s open up the gate … and let’s face it, we don’t have time,” McLellan said.
ICE CHIPS
There was one lineup change for the Kings for Game 5, coming on the back end. Sean Walker made his series debut, drawing in for veteran Alex Edler and played on the third D pair with Sean Durzi. Not only was it Walker’s series debut but his first playoff game in the NHL.
Walker’s last game came in the regular-season finale against the Ducks on April 13.
He missed most of the 2021-22 season after suffering torn knee ligaments in an Oct. 25, 2021 game at St. Louis, which required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.