After a brief slump in the middle of the season, the Anaheim Ducks have come storming back of late to solidify their top spot in the Pacific Division. A comeback win against the visiting Winnipeg Jets on Monday – named one of the biggest comebacks in franchise history – all but assured them of finishing the regular season with the top seed going into the playoffs. Then, on Wednesday night, they were up to their old tricks against the Oilers. Following another comeback win, finishing with a 3-2 final, here’s what was being said in both locker rooms – including quotes from Corey Perry, Viktor Fasth, and both coaches…
Corey Perry on the key to the comeback:
“It was a huge save by Freddie [Frederik Andersen], and we turn around and score. Those are momentum boosts and confidence plays for everybody on the ice.”
Perry on if confidence fuels comebacks:
“We’ve been a team that’s worked hard all year. We have that never-say-die attitude. If we can continue to push and play the right way for a full 60 minutes, we’ll be all right.”
Francois Beauchemin on his game-winning goal:
“Their team was taking away the far side, so I just tried to shoot it as hard as I could. I knew Pears [Corey Perry] was going for a rebound if it was there. Fortunately, it went in. I was pretty happy with that one.”
Beauchemin on the team’s confidence:
“We always know we have a chance. We’re pretty good playing with the lead, as well. It’s a lot less stressful playing with a lead. We killed a big penalty just before my goal. That was a big momentum change.”
Ducks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau on the team reaching 50 wins:
“The idea of reaching 50 wins is pretty cool, quite frankly. There’s only going to be a few teams that do it, and when you’re one of them, it’s quite an accomplishment. I’m pretty proud of the guys for 50 wins.”
Boudreau on the play of Frederik Andersen:
“That’s twice he’s come up with a big save. He made a big save when it was 2-0 right after their goal. Then we score right away. What a swing. There’s no way we would’ve come back from 3-0, but Freddie stood tall and made a great save.”
Viktor Fasth on his play:
“In the first period I was a little bit rusty, then I kind of got into the game the longer it went. But I have to do better for us to win. That’s a tough loss.”
Fasth on coming back to Honda Center:
“There were a lot of emotions. I had been playing with the guys on the other side for over a year. It was a special feeling. It is tough.”
Jordan Eberle on Andersen’s big save:
“They come back and they score right away like that. Instead of making it 3-0, it’s 2-1. That could have been a game-changer.”
Eberle on the game:
“I thought we played really well. We were in sync the whole night. We were breaking the puck out well. We were playing together as a team. For me, it really felt like we had a type of game that was a force to be reckoned with. I think the shots were 12 to 1 to start the game. I can’t remember the last time we did that against an opponent like these guys. You can take some positives for sure but just the way we lost, it’s crazy.”
Oilers Head Coach Dallas Eakins on the game:
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s games like these that you want your players to feel the reward of the points. When we had it 2-0, we had an unbelievable chance in front of the net and a rebound that, if it would have went to three, it would have been over for sure. But then again, with the Ducks, you never know. They seem to be very, very good at never being out of the game. Great compete, but we have to find a way to close it out.”
Eakins on the team’s effort:
“I don’t know what they’re proving to the people watching but they’re definitely proving something to me. We’ve got an extremely banged-up lineup. We have some defensemen in there with very little experience, call ups. And these guys are battling. I think there are a lot of people in our market that were wondering if they were going to start mailing it in. I am not going to sit here and accept losing games by a goal but it is hard to critique that group when they’re fighting so hard.”
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