Following the Sharks 3-2 win against the Calgary Flames, here’s what was being said in both locker rooms..
Todd McLellan on getting the win:
“The win was important. Obviously when we start the night, that’s what our goal is. When you look back and evaluate the game, that’s where it gets a little disappointing. We weren’t very good obviously.”
McLellan on the team’s play:
“I didn’t think we skated well, we didn’t move our feet, we tried to pass standing still, and the passes were errant. We had no rhythm or tempo, and really didn’t establish any forecheck besides the first five minutes of the game. So it was a night where we probably got away with one.”
Joe Thornton on his play:
“The puck wasn’t my friend tonight. You know I haven’t had that many problems in a long time. It just wouldn’t settle down for me for some reason. Sometimes you will have nights like that.”
Joe Pavelski on the game:
“It was a weird game out there. The ice wasn’t very good out there, the puck was bouncing even more. I feel good obviously. There are nights when you don’t feel your best, and you [still] find a way to get one or two. But this feels like how you should play the game all the time.”
Jason Demers on the team’s play:
“In the last couple of weeks we have really taken a look at our defensive game. Obviously losing Couture, there are some big shoes to fill. He adds a lot of goals, so I think the guys that have come up have done a great job. I think defensively we have been a lot better. It starts with our goaltending too. They’ve been awesome. They give us a chance to win every night.”
Tommy Wingels on the Sharks’ defense:
“Defense has been the backbone of this team the entire year. The way some goes are playing, [Vlasic and Boyle] are leading the way. You know Justin Braun, you can’t say enough about his game. A couple guys have really stepped up. Jason Demers is probably playing the best hockey he’s played in his career. We have a great group back there.”
Bob Hartley on the game:
“I felt that we had some great chances. I thought that the Sharks came out like we thought they would and they were very dominant in the first five minutes of the game, but then we started to get our legs back and I felt that we competed for the rest of the game. I thought we played well enough to get a better result but at the same time that’s the way sometimes games go. I am very happy with the effort.”
Hartley on the return of Kris Russell and David Jones:
“They were very good. Jonesy was great on the forecheck. He got some hits and drove the net. Russell, I like the poise that he’s showing with the puck. He can attack as a second wave. I think it’s two guys that are very important to our lineup and I felt that tonight they played very well despite the fact that they were off for quite a time.”
Kevin Westgarth on his first goal with Calgary:
“It was great. We ended up getting down with a couple weird bounces against and it was nice to tie it up. I think we had a great effort as a team. That’s one of the best teams in the NHL and we definitely stuck with them for most of the game and then outplayed them, I thought, in the last 20 minutes. It’s tough when were not putting pucks in the net as much, try to get them from anywhere you can – I’m just happy to pitch in.”
Matt Stajan on the game:
“It’s disappointing that we lost. I don’t fault our effort, we had chances and they had some bounces on their goals. We took it to them in the third but just couldn’t get that third goal. If we work like that and activate our defense like we did, we’ll give ourselves a chance a lot of nights. It’s a good hockey team and this is a tough building to win. We gave ourselves a chance, and we’re still disappointed we fell short but it wasn’t for our effort.”