After the Predators beat the Ducks 5-2 in Anaheim on Friday night, here’s what was being said in both locker rooms – including quotes from Ryan Getzlaf, Pekka Rinne, and both coaches…
Ryan Getzlaf on the trend of slow starts:
“It’s something we have to pay close attention to. We’re not starting games on time. Eventually someone is going to beat you, especially when you give up three or four goals right off the hop. Tonight was one of those nights. We have to get ready for the next one.”
Getzlaf on if the team let Jonas Hiller down:
“Jonas has played unbelievable for us all season, and tonight we didn’t help him. They got some bounces early, but we didn’t stick up for him or answer the bell. Those are things we’ve got to do as a group for our goaltender.”
Francois Beauchemin on the recent stretch of games:
“We haven’t been good defensively. That’s one aspect of our game that we have to get better at for the playoffs. Every single guy has to be better, mentally sharp and ready to play. We all know what we have to do.”
Beauchemin on if this can be rectified before season’s end:
“Absolutely. We’ve done it before. When we follow the game plan, everything works and we’re winning games and playing good defensively. The last three games we’ve given up too many goals and been playing catch-up hockey.”
Ducks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau on the slow starts:
“We can’t let this happen. We have to find a way. Sometimes, for one reason or another, we’re not getting the job done early. We’re a really good team with the lead, but we just haven’t had the lead lately.”
Boudreau on Nashville:
“We knew Nashville was going to come out hard. They had four days of rest. The last time they had rest, they went into Chicago twice and beat Chicago. We just didn’t answer the bell tonight.”
Colin Wilson on the game:
“We’ve had four days off here and, I don’t know, it must have been a refocus or something. We knew that we weren’t going to be taking them lightly. They’re a good team, and fast. 4-1 is a great start.”
Wilson on the playoffs:
“We’re going to try and keep winning here. It is hard to say. Statistically it’s not the greatest chance but you never know. If you go on a run at the end, you always want to be passing other teams. So we’ll see what happens.”
Pekka Rinne on the game:
“We played really hard and it’s great to see guys getting rewarded. We got some bounces and we executed.”
Rinne on play regardless of playoff standing:
“We only have five more games. We’ve had some ups and downs this year and it’s great to see, as a group, we still battle until the last game. It shows a lot of character. Obviously, we all wish that we were in a different situation where you feel like you have things in your own hands. But the situation is what it is and we have to make the most of it. I am really happy with the way we played tonight.”
Predators Head Coach Barry Trotz on four-goal start:
“They just played hard. We looked a little rusty in the first five minutes and there were some dangerous pucks bouncing around in front of Pekka. He was really sharp. Wilson had some great shifts and he got us rolling in the right way. I thought we managed the puck and were able to capitalize on our chances. We were able to get a couple net cycles on Hiller early and they just found a way in the back of the net.”
Trotz on Wilson:
“I liked the way Wilson was skating and taking pucks to the net and managing the puck. I just liked his game. I think Viktor Stalberg on that line was good, and Spaling. They sort of got us jump-started. There weren’t any passengers. I thought Pekka was solid in goal. On the back end, our defense was solid.”
