Comments from Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau in advance of Game 5 vs. the visiting Los Angels Kings later today…
The talk was the Kings had all the momentum after the first two games and now it looks like it has shifted in the Ducks favor. How do you view momentum?
“We are being pretty cautious. We think they are going to come at us pretty hard tonight. I don’t think momentum has any factor in this series. Maybe it does from shift to shift. I think we started out slow in Game 4 and then we got a good shift from our fourth line and things went well after that. I just don’t think from game to game, day to day that momentum has any bearing.”
Was the style of play the Ducks showed in the last two periods of Game 4, sitting back something you are comfortable with?
“We think we need more than three shots in the last two periods. We have been going over that, the things we don’t want to do.”
How critical do you view Game 5 in the playoffs?
“Game 5 is the most important game. Whether you down 3-1 or the series is tied at 2. Game 5 is the big game. It can really put a team in a hole. The team that doesn’t have home ice advantage wants this game so bad so they can win it at home. We believe the Kings will play their best game of the series.”
How does Smith-Pelly compliment Getzlaf and Perry?
“He’s similar to Matt Beleskey. He’s a big bodied guy that doesn’t mind the physical play. He’s got a real good hockey IQ. He’s played well everywhere we’ve asked him to play.”
Any update on when Freddie Andersen and Matt Beleskey will be ready to go?
“I have no idea. Maybe Wednesday for one of them. I am not going to reveal anything else. They need to get on the ice first and practice before they play.”
How has having Teemu and Saku helped Sami Vatanen and who did you look to during your playing days as a mentor?
“As far as Sammy goes he has been here parts of the year. It’s always great to have guys from your own country in those times off the ice when you can talk your own language with them. Obviously Teemu and Saku are great mentors for him. With me, anything Darryl Sittler did, I wanted to do. I didn’t do it as well. He’s a guy that I learned a work ethic from a learned so much about playing the game from. I kicked myself for not learning these things earlier.”
