Following the Kings 3-2 win over the visiting Phoenix Coyotes, here’s what coach Darryl Sutter had to share…
– On the significance of the win: “Well you try and every day…Not just us here. Hoping for not three points. Games we’re watching are so close. Played a team that’s been struggling to score, and I think once they got a little bit of momentum…You’re worried about three points.”
– On if he can say anything about Toffoli not playing in the last ten minutes: “No. Nothing says he has to play. (No injury or anything?) Do we report injuries usually?”
– On how good Bernier can become (compared to other NHL goalies): “I don’t know. He’s a young goaltender, and he wants to be a number one goalie. Right? That’s his goal. That’s what he said this summer. And the way the schedule has been, and with Quick’s surgery last summer, and his training. It’s allowed us to play both guys, and we’ll continue doing that.”
– On if he was happy with the final minute of the game: “I was really happy, because they didn’t score. When the other team pulls the goalie, what you’re trying to do, is make sure they don’t score. So I was very happy. We had our five best players on the ice. That’s the best…In terms of trying to…Hey you want to win the face-off; Kopi did that. You want to try and get the puck out of our zone; we did that. So we were able to get the win.”
– On if the Coyotes whine too much (see Drew Doughty’s comments here): “I’m trying to get our team not to whine. Not worried about the other team. Is that a whine with an “h” or an “I”? (laughs) I don’t know if they whine too much.”
– On if he thought the team kept their composure: “I thought we had a good third period. I thought we got better. I don’t even look at it like…Like today I look at it like six periods, right? We got the goaltending that we need, and we got great special teams two nights in a row.”
– On Doughty finally scoring: “Oh geez, I’m sure they’ll change that to Jeff Carter. (Did you tell Drew that?) No, I don’t want to tear him down. Let him feel good about himself, right? (laughs) Nobody’s pulling more for Drew to score a goal than I am, right? He’s had so many. Just want him now to move on, right?”
– On if he’s surprised it took him so long: “I could score, and I probably went 20 games or more without scoring a couple times. You know what? You’re put in every situation; there’s nothing that surprises you. I don’t know why everybody talks about Drew not scoring. I mean, it happens, right? The leading goal-scorer by a defenseman in the league only has five. If Drew scores a goal in the next five games; he could be leading the league. By a defenseman. So not that big a deal, right?”
– On the Kings’ next opponent, the Stars: “Dallas kicked our ass here last time.”
– On any further thoughts on Bernier being special: “I’ve only seen Jonathan Bernier play a handful of games. You know what? I said last year when we won the Stanley Cup…He’s a good team player, and him and I have a really good relationship. But, what is he? 23? You know what? In 10 years, somebody can answer that question better than I can. It’s not possible. He hasn’t played a total in his career so far. In the NHL. So it’s a night-to-night thing. His last three games he’s played well. Tonight…Three games ago, we pulled him after three goals.”
– On if he’s happy with what he’s seen from Penner lately: “We’ve asked him to move around, play different positions, accept a different role, and the best thing about Dustin Penner; he just wants to win. Best thing. Doesn’t matter to him. That’s what happens when you’ve won it twice. You start understanding it better.”
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