Dan Boyle on loss of Vlasic, Stalock in goal and playing at Staples

Morning skate quotes from Dan Boyle in advance of the Sharks Game 6 vs. the Kings in Los Angeles…

Based on after game 5 there is a sense in this room about playing game 6, just so the team can move on?

“We would have loved to have played last night if we could have. We are eager to play, eager to get going. Put the past in the past and look forward to winning a hockey game and moving on.”

How does the absence of Vlasic change the dynamic of the defenseman as a group and filling that gap?

“You don’t try and replace one person, you just try to be the best at what you can do.   Matt Irwin is coming in, I have played with him before and he is very comfortable of handling himself out there. He’s a very good hockey player and we are going to do the job as a unit of six out there and as a team. I think Matt is a great hockey player and I am not saying that because I have to. I really think he does a good job of shooting the puck. He skates well. He’s poised. He brings a lot of good things and I truly mean that.”

How does the puck handling ability of Alex Stalock help the goalies?

“You get asked the question a lot about what is the difference when a team makes a goaltending change. There is literally no difference with that exception. When you have a goalie that plays the puck a little bit more, I don’t know if you necessarily change the way you play but you certainly have to be aware that he can play the puck and as a defenseman be ready for the pass?”

Does having already won a game in this building in the series, which has been so tough to do in the past, add to the team’s confidence level heading into game 6?

“You still have to believe that you are going to win a hockey game no matter how poor your record is going into any building. You still have to believe in your team and what is ahead. Our success hasn’t been very good here over the past few years but that is not something we are concerned with.”

BONUS QUOTES FROM TOMMY WINGELS:

Staples has not been friendly to the Sharks over the years but coming into tonight with already a win in this series in LA. Does help the team’s confidence?

“I think it does. It’s been documented our struggles prior to that. From the mental side knowing that we can win in this building. I think we’ve played well our last few times at Staples Center.”

After the type of game this Sharks team had in game 5, does game 6 allow you to turn the page and put closure on game 5?

“We’ve talked about the fact that game 5 is not the way we play, not us. We are ready for puck drop for that very reason. We want to reestablish what has made us successful which is being aggressive, being physical and being fast. That was unlike us last game and we are waiting for puck drop to re-establish that.”

As a team is it easier to come off a loss when you just don’t play up to your expectations as opposed to a 1 goal loss?

“I don’t think so. A loss is a loss. When you win a game, they don’t ask how and when you lose your not happy whether you get spanked or it’s in overtime. We’ve put it behind us like we do after every game. Now it refresh and re-set after every game and now it is time for game 6.”

Anything positive you can take from game 5?

“When you play a poor game you can really show yourself what it takes to be successful in the playoffs and for us for when you look at film from the first two games as compared to the last few it is drastically different.”

BONUS QUOTES FROM COACH TODD McLELLAN:

Can you talk about the reasoning and the thought process behind making the change to Alex Stalock in goal?

“Alex Stalock will start today and we made our decision.”

You’ve had Vlasic in the lineup for all but one game. How does his absence effect your lineup?

“It’s a loss to our hockey club, but it is one that we can overcome. Good teams that win and have opportunities to move on overcome adversity and this is one of those situations. We feel that Matt Irwin or Matt Tennyson can go into that position and play. Both of them have NHL experience and can do the job. It’s not about the one you lose it’s about the group as a whole that needs to come together. We can overcome that loss.”

Is the message to the defenseman any different with Vlasic out or is Irwin an interchangeable part?

“He’s (Irwin) a different player than Marc Edouward and at a different level but it still comes down to the group playing better than it did in game 5. Matt Irwin will get that opportunity to go in and play. If we approach the game with a dramatic change in strategy because Marc Edouward is not involved I think that would be a great mistake. We will have to play our game. We played it throughout the year with Matt Irwin in the lineup and that will have to continue.”

When you look back to game 5 why wasn’t the forecheck effective?

“You have to rewind the video 200 feet away from the forecheck and into our zone. If you are not generating speed and you’re not supporting each other coming out of our end you never have the five pieces involved in the forecheck. They skated us, in the first period atleast. They skated us. I expect us to be a fresher team, with better legs, a better mind, better execution and back to being what we can.”

Morning skate quotes from the Kings Dustin Brown, Justin Williams and Darryl Sutter can be found here.