Coyotes’ coach Dave Tippett on 3-1 win over the visiting Kings

Following the Coyotes 3-1 win over the visiting LA Kings, here’s what Phoenix coach Dave Tippett had to share…

– On the overall game: “It keeps us in the game. The only way you have a chance is if you get two points and win. I thought we battled hard tonight. I thought Barbs was really good in goal. Couple big goals from Yandle. It was what we needed.”

– On how tough it will be to sustain the momentum this week with multiple games: “Well it shouldn’t. I mean to get your mind to grasp that that’s what you have to do is pretty easy, because there’s not a lot of room for error here. So grasping it should be easy. Grasping it is one thing, and then going out and actually doing it is the next step of the process. That’s why we have to make sure we’re ready.”

– On the reason for the good performance: “I think there’s a couple things. The desperation in the game which is because of our situation. It’s obvious. The other thing is that it was a tight game. We were able to get a lead, we were able to get the crucial third goal that pushes you along. We’ve been in a lot of one goal games, and it seems like we couldn’t break to get that third goal. Tonight we got the third goal, and it gives you’re team a little umph. I thought Barbs was excellent in goal, but pretty well right through our lineup; we had a pretty strong effort.”

– On being surprised about the slow start given the desperation: “It was kind of a funny first period. Both teams were just kind of throwing a lot of pucks at the net. We took the penalty early, and that gave them a little momentum. I think as the game moved on it ramped up.”

– On Keith Yandle having significantly more points at home than on the road and if that’s indicative of his game: “No. I’d rather see him balance it out, 17 at home and 17 on the road would be better. I think if you look at our whole group that’s exactly what it is. There’s only a couple guys where their states are anywhere close to even at home and on the road. There’s a huge discrepancy.”

– On if Yandle jumping up in the rush being because of aggressiveness or him reading the play: “No, that’s him reading the play. He has the green light to jump in there. We have to rely on everybody to create chances for us. I think if you saw the play, their forward, he just kind of widened out a little bit, and Yandle’s a guy that recognized that. He came right down the slot and Chipchurra found him. But it was a real good goal and a good read by Yandle. He has the green light to do that as long as we have the puck….You know he’s not down there being crazy, but he’s down there at the right time.”

– On if stringing starts together has helped Jason Labarbera: “Yeah, it certainly has. I think that would help any goaltender who hasn’t played a lot in a long time. You start playing and you just play. You’re not thinking about what you’re doing; you’re just in a groove. I think any goaltender would tell you that’s when he feels the best.”

– On what he saw from Labarbera in this game: “The biggest thing is just battling. He’s battling. He’s like the rest of our group. I’ve said all along, we’ve got a real…They want to do well. You know, every guy. They respect what we’re trying to do with this team, and they want to do well. Everybody who gets the opportunity. Sometimes it doesn’t go as well as you’d like, but it’s not from lack of trying. And Barbs is a battler. He’s in there trying hard. I think as he’s continued to pay games here, his game’s gotten better.”

– On if tonight is a sign that the team wants to stay together and fight through this season: “Yeah, that’s exactly…Who knows what will happen? That’s not my department. Like I say, they’re a good group. They want to do well.”

– On the third period: “Yeah, we stayed aggressive on it. We were real determined to make sure we gained zones in the game. Where you’re not coming coming back with the puck a lot. Like a north-south game. Go hard at their net, and I thought we did a pretty good job of that. You could hear the guys talking on the bench about it. Like, ‘let’s go forward, let’s go forward.’ Then we pushed along, Yan jumps in and gets that third goal. That’s the one we’ve been missing for a couple games.”

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