Hickey, Tavares, Getzlaf talk Islanders 5-2 loss to Ducks

Those Anaheim Ducks just keep on rolling, running their home record to 11-0-2 after a 5-2 win over the visiting New York Islanders on Monday night. Now sitting at 21-7-5 overall (47 points), they’re tied with Chicago for the overall NHL lead. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf extended their points streaks and Jonas Hiller once again stood tall in net.

After the game, here’s what was being said back in both locker rooms…

Ryan Getzlaf on what was said during the first intermission:

“There was a lot said about our composure and playing a hockey game. We didn’t come out and play hockey. We weren’t ready to go. We weren’t making the plays we normally make. It was very uncharacteristic. Our goaltender played well and we got timely goals.”

Getzlaf on the success of the special teams:

“We started to focus a little bit. At the start of the year, we were so focused on getting off to a good start. We weren’t really practicing our special teams much. We did a great job focusing in on those and understanding that in order to be successful long-term, you need to get those at their best.”

Corey Perry on his highlight-reel goal (see video below):

“Winnie [Daniel Winnik] just dropped it to me and I knew there were only seconds left, so I had to make a move. The guys tripped me, and as I was falling on my knees, I got it and found a way to squeak it in.”

Perry on his chemistry with Getzlaf and Dustin Penner:

“You’ve got to give a lot of credit to those around me. Getzy and Pens, we’ve established ourselves and we want to play the same way each and every night, and I think we’ve been doing that lately.”

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau on earning the two points:

“You’re always pleased when you get two points. Whether you play good or not, the two points are important. They came out and played really hard. We weren’t ready for them. But it seemed like every time they were outplaying us, we got a goal. We just hung around long enough to get our legs, and once we got to 3-2 and 4-2 on the same shift, I think it took the heart out of them a little bit.”

Boudreau on the improved special teams:

“We’ve worked at it really hard. The first 15 games, we were atrocious on both of them. But the last 18 games, we’ve been really good at both of them. We work hard and get on the same page. In the end, your goalie has got to be your best penalty killer, and he was again tonight. I thought Hiller was great. He was probably the difference in the whole scheme of things.”

Islanders captain John Tavares on the overall game:

“We had a lot of chances tonight. Obviously we’re not getting some bounces and when we make our mistakes, they’re costing us. We can’t seem to figure out some of our breakdowns. Times when you hope things can go your way, they’re just not. Did some good things but like I said in the last few weeks, good things aren’t what we want. We want wins, points, and to move up in the standings. That’s what matters. It’s disappointing once again.”

More Tavares:

“It’s been the story of the last few weeks for us, and a lot of games this season. There have been games where we haven’t played well at all but we’ve come out hard and we just haven’t been able to carry for 60 minutes. When things don’t go your way we need to find a way to get some momentum back. We’ve been shooting ourselves in the foot plenty of times.”

Islanders defenseman Thomas Hickey on the overall game:

“It’s the same story. Bottom line is we just have to win. It has to be the end result. It’s no longer what you did good, you got to win. It is frustrating as hell and it’s tough right now. I think we have to play 60 perfect minutes, honestly, to win one. And then it will get easier. But right now it’s not that way.”

Hickey on the road trip:

“If you can’t beat these teams, these are all playoff teams, they you can’t be in the playoffs. It’s a challenge for us but it’s not really who we’re playing right now, we just have to put together the 60 minutes that we know we can and then win a hockey game. With all due respect, these are very good hockey teams, but it’s about us right now.”

Islander coach Jack Capuano on the overall game:

“We generate a lot, we can’t score. I don’t know what to tell you. We get chances that other teams, when they get them, they score. Right now it’s just Johnny Tavares line. That’s the only line that is finding the back of the net and then everything gets magnified but the turning point in the game, obviously, is the shorthanded goal. There is no question.”

More Capuano:

“We try to play fast. We try to utilize what we’ve got in the lineup. That’s the way that we play. I’m not a coach that is going to sit back. We don’t have that type of team that’s going to sit back. We don’t have great size on the back end. We want to push the pace, we want to play fast. We try to play in the offensive zone as much as we can and try to defend as little as we can. I thought we did that for the most part tonight. We had our opportunities on the power play. Special teams is a huge part in this league. Goaltending and special teams. Tonight we were right where we wanted to be. There was only a minute left in the second period. Obviously the Perry goal was a skill goal but the shorthanded goal hurt us.”

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