We'll have some quality practice time. This year, the schedule is so compact with so many games in such a short period of time that will be nice to get to work on our system. |
We'll make a decision (Wednesday) afternoon or (Thursday) morning. |
We're a team that our work ethic has to be 100 percent, our concentration has to be 100 percent and our desperation has to be 100 percent. At the moment that we slip away a little bit, we are going to be in real trouble. (Saturday) all the things I just mentioned were not there at all and it was embarrassing. An embarrassing performance. That's all I have to say. |
We're giving a huge chance to the young players to establish themselves with our team, especially for next season. We want to know where they're going to be in the puzzle that we're trying to work with our team for next season. Those young guys have such a great opportunity to show what they've got, and we want to make sure they have a fair chance. |
We're going into the break onto a positive note and that was important. We weathered the storm in the first period. Marc-Andre was phenomenal in the first, he made some key saves. The power play played really well and penalty killing for the first time in a long time didn't allow a goal. |
We're going to meet a team that's pretty angry. Their last two games didn't go that well. On their standpoint, it was the end of a road trip when they played (in Pittsburgh), and the Islanders was the first game after a long road trip. They're not always easy games to play. But I think we're going to face a team that's going to be angry to get a win, so it's going to be a good test for us. |
We're going to try to figure out the combinations as quickly as possible. What we've seen [yesterday] in practice doesn't mean that after the first period [tonight] it will remain the same, but we're going to try to give a fair chance to everyone and concentrate on the young players and the new players and make sure they fit in well. |
We're happy to get the No. 2 pick, but I'm telling you something: This is the last time that we're going to draft No. 1, No. 2, No. 3. It's a good thing for this organization, and we're certainly going to have a good player, but let me tell you, this is the last year. |
We're just going to keep giving a huge chance to these young players to establish themselves. We want to know where they're going to be in the puzzle we're trying to work on for next season. For the young players, this is a great opportunity to show what they've got. |
We've always been close friends. We talk a lot. Every week we're on the phone. |
We've got to be more solid around our net. The defensemen are there, but they aren't playing hard enough. |
We've got to upgrade our penalty killing. We're using guys right now that aren't used to playing on the penalty kill. Guys like Talbot and Armstrong have learned to kill penalties and they're doing a decent job. |
We've lost a lot of games on special teams. We're getting a lot better. Tonight, special teams were the difference. |
What can a coach say? The scoring chances are there, the guys were following the plan. Again tonight the work ethic is there, as everybody can see. |
What this kid has accomplished this year is pretty phenomenal. For a rookie like that, to be close [to 100 points] like he is right now is ... looking down the history of the league, there aren't too many guys who have done it. It leaves me speechless to see him that close. |