Kings defenseman Matt Greene knows all about the playoff grind. In his NHL rookie season he went all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Edmonton Oilers, falling one victory short of the ultimate goal. He’s also been to the post-season with Los Angeles each of the last two years. After another 82 regular season games, he’s eager to get going again tonight. Here are some pre-game thoughts he shared with MayorsManor…
On putting Vancouver’s regular season accomplishments out of his mind – “We have to. We got ourselves into this situation. We could have finished higher than eighth, we didn’t. This is who we’re playing and now we just have to worry about our own game.”
On an aspect he can take from the series two years ago and apply it this time around – “Familiarity. With those guys, you know what type of game they’re going to play. It’s no fluke they won the President’s Trophy. They’re a good team – a good offensive team with great defense and good goaltending. So, we’re comfortable with them. We know what we’re going to see. I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of surprises. We just have to be ready.”
On what gives him the most confidence heading into the series – “Our whole team. I like the way we’ve been playing lately…over the stretch run since the trade deadline, I think we’ve been playing some good hockey. We have a lot of confidence in every aspect of our game.”
Greene, primarily a defensive specialist, has 11 goals in 461 regular season games. He’s also played in 30 playoff games – third most among the Kings blueliners, trailing Rob Scuderi (61) and Willie Mitchell (51). However, he’s yet to record his first post-season goal. Is this the year?
Be sure to enter tonight’s First Goal Contest here. You could win a Dustin Brown autographed puck.
Wow, Scuds and Mitchell have seen some post season ice time, huh? That makes me feel better going into tonight.
Go Kings Go!
Yeah, well let’s hope Scuds can get some better luck going into tonight’s game. Can’t wait for tonight; hope we come out fired-up! GKG!