After missing a team meeting, Kevin Fiala was a healthy scratch in the LA Kings' 4-2 loss against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. Fiala was not given any playing time as he failed to show up and did not have a valid reason. He explained his absence to reporters after Wednesday's game against the Vegas Golden Knights.
"What happened is, I don't know if you guys know, my alarm didn't go off," Fiala said. "I had only my iPad. My iPhone was broken. I never had the iPad doing the alarm for me. I will never do that again. It didn't go off, honestly. That's the truth. I take full responsibility and I have to be better than that."
Fiala added that he let his teammates down and felt like he had to make it up to them. The Kings bounced back in a big way when Fiala, who recorded a goal and an assist in the game, returned. They won 6-3 over the Golden Knights.
The win pushed LA to 6-3-2 and dropped Vegas, who were off to a terrific start, to a 7-3-1 record this season.
Kevin Fiala says he and coaches have moved on after missing meeting
Kevin Fiala may have been a healthy scratch versus the Sharks due to his alarm not going off, but he said that he has no hard feelings toward his team.
"Well, of course," Fiala said (1:11). "Mistakes happen and you have to move on. It wouldn't help any of us to drag this with us. Like I said, I was lucky to have a game today and not in like three or four days. It was easier to let go and to have a good game and to win."
Fiala's absence was felt on the ice in the defeat against the San Jose Sharks, who won only their second game of the season so far.