After three games played in their second round series, the Blues look like a team that aren’t quite sure what hit them. Gone are the days of a methodical, organized, ‘within the system’ attack, supported by good goaltending. Instead, they’re taking unnecessary penalties and find themselves intimidated by the LA Kings. Following their third straight loss, here’s what they were saying back in the locker room:
Team captain David Backes on the overall game – “It’s game three and more of the same. They’ve got a team that’s playing all together as a team and sticking to the game plan, and we’re in for a while, we’re out for a while, we’re in for a while and it just doesn’t match up. We need to look in the mirror again and decide. We’ve had some good contributions from a guy that was a healthy scratch last game so when you get contributions like that the guys that are in every night, the top end guys who win our match-ups, need to be better on special teams all around and [we need to] give ourselves a fighting chance.”
Backes on not being able to find a comfort zone – “They make you play uncomfortable. They come at you hard and physical; it’s the way we play when we are successful too, but for some reason we haven’t responded well to when they come at us and it’s gut check time, it’s win or go home. We thought about seven games at the beginning of the series and that’s what it’s going to take for us to have success. We will start with a win in Game 4.”
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk on the overall game – “I think we came out in the third [period] and kind of had a no quit attitude. I think we felt after we got that second [goal] that the third [goal] was right within our reach. It’s a tough way to go; it didn’t work out.”
Shattenkirk on the Kings performance – “They’re playing their team game; they’re playing their fundamentals and what their coach preaches. I don’t think we’ve reached our full potential yet, but we have two days to buckle down here and get our mind set right.”
Shattenkirk on trying to extend the series to a fifth game – “Absolutely, we want to take this back to St. Louis. Obviously win the game Sunday and take this back to St. Louis and get a little energy from our fans by playing at home and see what happens then.”
Coach Ken Hitchcock on the overall game – “They outplayed us. They were better. We had stretches where we really mounted comebacks. I think thing to outplay them in this building is tough, Vancouver found it too. We mounted the comeback, made it 1-1, and then gave up the quick goal again. And then when we had it 3-2, [we] miss those two great chances and we let up another goal quickly after that. They are momentum goals on their side in the three games. That’s a fine line between winning and losing. ..They’re on top of their game right now. [They] have been for a little while.”
Hitchcock on the Blues taking penalties – “In two of the three games it’s been a major problem. Veteran players taking reactionary penalties…We can’t beat this team when we’re sitting in the penalty box.”
And for some extended coverage, here’s video of portions of their conversations…
Backes:
Shattenkirk:
Coach Hitchcock:
For reaction from the Kings locker room, click here.
