Quinton Byfield might have scored the best goal of the season on Tuesday night, as the Kings keeps on winning during interim head coach Jim Hiller.
After a four-game East road trip, the Kings were playing their first home game, and they started it slow.
But late in the first period, Byfield got the puck off the draw in the defensive zone. He skated up the ice, but with players all around him near the left faceoff circle in the offensive zone, he put the puck through Blue Jackets’ Zach Werenski’s legs.
Byfield regained possession through a kick pass to his own stick, and although he lost balance and was on one knee, he put a backhand past Elvis Merzlikins in the Blue Jackets’ net.
It was Byfield’s 18th goal of the season and by far the most extraordinary.
The goal quickly went viral, with fans around the league applauding and appreciating it. The goal also provided the momentum the Kings needed, extending their winning streak to four with a 5-1 win.
But postgame, all the talk was about Byfield’s highlight-reel goal.
“I could have held a camera and filmed it. It was a beautiful goal,” said linemate Pierre-Luc Dubois.
Byfield said he just took advantage of the speed he’d picked up after the draw.
“I was originally going to take Werenski wide there, saw he was cutting me off and wanted to make a play to the inside,” Byfield said. “Luckily I beat him. I tried to get the puck on net. It went in, it was special.”
Byfield, the second pick in the 2020 NHL draft, received praise from Jim Hiller, the interim coach who’s won five of six since taking over the Kings.
“Here’s a guy that took a bit of flack early in his career,” Hiller said. “He’s just starting to get his legs going. He’s got a tremendously bright future with the Kings and we’re all glad to be watching him grow in front of our eyes.”
