A spot was available here on the right wing, so I'm hoping I can slide in and contribute as best I can. The fact that I'm playing in a Canadian market, the beauty of Vancouver with its incredible weather and things to do, that's just icing on the cake. |
After watching Minnesota lull Edmonton to sleep last night we knew it would be a difficult game emotionally. You can't play the score, you have to play like it's going to be 1-0. A boring game just like watching paint dry. |
As a player, you take your game to another level when you're in the playoffs. As much fun as I had shooting the spots, it was important for me to show that intensity. |
Every game is big for us down the stretch. We've dug ourselves a little bit of a hole, but I think we welcome the challenge. |
I had a wonderful four years at Michigan State and they did a great job preparing me for the NHL. We played tough competition so it was pretty easy for me to step right in when I went to the NHL. I went directly to the NHL and quite a few other Michigan State players have done the same thing. |
I think we have a lot of confidence in our top two lines. We think we're capable of scoring goals and any time of the game. It's just a matter of getting it done. |
I'm hoping for power-play time, but you never know, ... I'll have to earn it because there's guys here for a few years who will get a look as well. Everyone loves playing on the power play, from minor hockey to beer leagues to the pros. The power play is where you can pick up your game. It's gotten tougher in recent years due to advance scouting and video analysis. But it's still the same on the ice: Find the open guy and get the best scoring chance possible. |
I'm trying not to look past Edmonton. The first shift, the first period, that should be our focus. If we look past that game I think we'll be in big trouble. |
If you have a net presence that guy in the front of the net can't attack the corner guy as fast or as hard as he was in the first two periods. That s exactly what happened. Danny and Hank (Henrik) controlled the puck, I was in front and the D-man couldn't attack Danny down low and he was able to make a great pass on my stick. |
If you're looking for a silver lining to a dark cloud, that would be it, ... I wasn't traded for a bag of pucks. It helps your confidence to know that you are being traded for quality hockey players. It's been interesting. I've been moved around quite a bit, always in big trades. Most times, the reasons were economic ones. |
In the new NHL, it's a little harder to move you once you get in front of the net. We made a pretty conscious effort to get in front and try to score from there. |
It was a great play by the twins (Henrik Sedin took a pass from his twin brother, Daniel), ... For me, pretty easy. Just put it in the net. ... A nice little saucer pass right on my stick. |
It was a great play by the twins (Henrik Sedin took a pass from his twin brother, Daniel). For me, pretty easy. Just put it in the net. ... A nice little saucer pass right on my stick. |
It was big. We let them hang around a little bit after being up by a few goals and we gave them a little bit of life. We got a little sloppy but we were able to drive the final nail in the coffin and that was a big turning point for us. |
Last year was tough, |