Following the Sharks 5-2 loss to the Kings on Saturday night, here’s what they were saying back in the San Jose locker room…
– Captain Joe Thornton on the overall game: “The shots were pretty much even. If you don’t have an A game you have to have a B game and some guys had their D game. At this level that just can’t happen against elite teams. You are finally feeling pretty good about your game and pretty good about the team and then you take a step back like this tonight.”
– Thornton on how much of this game turned on the missed penalty shot: “It would have been nice if Tommy scored. Who knows what would have happened. It probably would have been a different scenario. It didn’t happen, it was a good save.”
– Thornton on sluggish start: “It was the same way back home. We got all our shots second part of the first period and on. Tonight was the same way. I am not sure why but guys have to find their B game if they aren’t getting their A game; can’t have C or D games.”
– Goaltender Antti Niemi on the overall game: “I have to be able to get the rebounds. Obviously there are going to be rebounds in front of the net, but we have to be able to get there. I have to be able to try my best to get those to the corners. We have to be able to get back to the net and clear those. Playing St Louis and LA they are pretty good teams putting screens in front. So yes it’s tough to find the puck for sure.”
– Coach Todd McLellan on the overall game: “How frigging disappointing is that? We play against the Stanley Cup champions back-to-back. We’re lucky enough to win one in San Jose. We come here and you got to think they’d to be champing at the bit and be ready to go, and they’re going to push you, and what a great opportunity for our team to test themselves collectively, but also individually: Do I belong in the NHL? When I look across, can I outplay the guy that I line up against? We had a lot of passengers. So disappointing. So disappointing.
– McLellan on if he will look at how they approached this game: “Not one bit. Not one frigging bit. They should be ready. If there’s not a better motivating factor then the guys with the Stanley Cup logo on their jerseys next door. Not one bit.”
– McLellan on how much blame Niemi should receive vs others: “They scored on the first shot. When you need a save early in the game, they scored on the first shot. They got the momentum rolling from there. But there was a lot of other people involved in all 60 minutes, not just Nemo.”
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“They scored on the first shot.” Awesome quote.