On how the game-winning goal developed on Wednesday:
“Well, we just…We got trying to score a goal…We got caught. On the play on the wall and got beat up the ice. The guy that scored the goal was below the goal line, and he won the race up the ice.”
On the Blues’ effort in Game 5:
“It was our best effort. Collectively it was our best effort of the year. We played a helluva’ hockey game. If we play like that again, I like our chances. All we gotta do is win a road game and come back here again. I like our chances. If that’s the effort, and that’s the all-in attitude we have; I like our chances. We got a heckuva’ effort from everybody across the board. You know, we had no passengers today. We had an all-in mentality. We, other than probably six minutes in the third period, we poured a lot of pucks at them. Probably if you’re lamenting anything, we missed the net on some shots that gave them some exits that could’ve even kept them in the zone for a longer periods of time. Once we really decided to dial it up, I was really impressed with the way we played.”
On the positives going into LA:
“There’s lots of positives. Effort, discipline, structure, whatever you want. There’s lots of positives. I mean overtime’s a crap-shoot. I mean we won a game in overtime, and I’m sure they’re thinking they’re going to win. Overtime’s a crap-shoot. I know to win the cup you gotta win most of your overtime games, but for me, the way we played, that’s something we gotta build on. That’s what we have. If that’s the type of effort, that’s all you can ask this time of year. We need an all-in mentality, and we had that. This felt very similar to Game 1, and we had an all-in mentality and dominated the game. We need to come with the same for Game 6. This is not over. Somebody’s got to win another hockey game. Like I said, if we can raise our spirits again, and go at it again; I like our chances.”
On what the Kings are doing that’s making it so hard to score:
“Battle harder. They’re the defending Stanley Cup Champion team with the best goals-against average in the playoffs last year. The best defense. They compete. They compete on every puck. So you have a choice. Either compete on every puck, or you get pushed out of the game. Pretty simple. They don’t give you any easy ice. So you have to go out and earn it, and fight for your space. And if you’re not willing to do it, like they did a lot, that’s why they swept so many team last year. Over the course of 60 minutes they wear you down, because they’re willing to stay in that space, and fight for it. If you’re not, you get pushed out. What’s impressed me, we’re going in there, we’re fighting like crazy. Very impressive.”
On what he said to the team going into overtime:
“Just keep playing. I mean, the way we came on the last nine minutes or so in the third period, just keep playing the same way. Which is exactly what we did. I mean, we had it in the zone. Made a mistake, gave up a little bit of an odd-man rush, but it’s not a big deal. 3-on-2’s aren’t a big deal. But sure Els would like to have that one back, and that’s the way it goes in overtime.”
On the referees:
“I’m not going to comment on the refereeing. Could’ve called 20 penalties tonight. I’m sure we’re all happy that they didn’t. It’s unfortunate that we had a great PK going, we got caught on a rush. Goal scorer scored that goal. Seen that before. What are you going to do?”
“I’m not going to comment on the refereeing.” *Proceeds to comment on the refereeing*
$ to donuts he was replying to an at least somewhat loaded question, meant to prod him into criticizing a certain call. I give him credit for not playing along.