Dustin Brown on the key to winning tonight’s game:
“We grind away, get an important goal at the end of one. Find a power play goal. We waited for our chances, got a 2-on-1 goal. Everyone is taking about the shot difference, our PK was on the ice a lot, unfortunately. That was a problem for us early, actually all throughout playoffs is our penalties. But our PK came out huge.”
Mike Richards on what is so special about the Kings right now:
“Right now or always I guess? Ever since I came to this team, it’s always been a team that has fun around each other, fun to go to the rink, enjoys each other’s company. It’s no different to this day. We seem to be a big family. I know a lot of people say that. I’ve been on some close teams, but this is probably the tightest knit group that I’ve been a part of. I think it shows on the ice how hard everyone plays.”
Richards on what is special talent-wise:
“Well, we can start with Quick, one of the best goaltenders in the world, and Drew [Doughty], one of the best defensemen in the world. Then you go to centers and have Kopitar, one of the best centers in the world. That’s a pretty good start, I think.”
Richards on his goal:
“I think Carter’s goal was the big one. In a series, we haven’t played well off the start. I thought we played a pretty good first period. To get that at the end of the period made us feel good going to the dress the room. Any time you can increase your lead I think it’s important. Muzzin got the one in the second, and then another one late in the third. We’re a team that plays a lot different I think when we have the lead and we play with confidence. We don’t sit back. We just keep pushing. I thought we did a good job of that tonight.”
Richards on knowing that they came back from a 3-0 deficit now that they have the lead:
“Well, we know it’s possible. The last game’s always the hardest. No matter what series or what the series is at, it’s always the hardest to do. We played a good game. We’re going to have to play a better game if we’re going to want to have success. It’s a good hockey team over there. We’re fortunate right now to get some bounces. Hopefully that continues.”
Richards on the confidence the team has with Jonathan Quick in net:
“Yeah, he made a bunch of big saves in the first. Gave us a chance to get the lead for him. When he’s on top of his game, which he is most of the time, I think that allows us to make plays with confidence. When we can make plays, knowing if something happens, he’s back there to save us. When we start making plays and we’re confident with the puck, I think that’s when we play our best.”
Jonathan Quick on the team’s confidence:
“I don’t think it would be any different if we were down 3-0, and they had the lead. You know, we’re just trying to win a game in a couple days here. That’s the focus.”
Quick on what playing at MSG meant to him:
“It was a playoff hockey game. We were trying to win a hockey game. We did a lot of things the right way. We were able to do that, so… Now we get ready for the next one. The fourth one is always the most difficult, so…”
Quick on if he can taste the cup:
“Nope.”
Quick on if he is excited to be one more game closer to the Stanley Cup:
“I would say it’s an exciting time of the year. It was exciting against San Jose. It’s why you play hockey, to play in the playoffs. Obviously nothing’s done, nothing’s finished. We still have a lot to work to do. We do know the fourth is always the most difficult, so we have a lot of work to do.”
Quick on if he felt unstoppable tonight:
“No, you make one save and then you try and make the next. You know, we had a lot of guys that blocked shots, cleared rebounds. Their PK was very good tonight. You know, possibly the difference in the game, so… You just make one save at a time and you try and get ready for the next one. That’s all.”
Quick on growing up in New York and his relationship with the Rangers:
“I didn’t come to many games, but I watched a few. I would say I was a Rangers fan growing up. You know, it was a good hour and a half away so it was tough to get in here and watch games.”
Quick on if he played at MSG as a kid:
“That was the one game I was actually able to catch. They had a peewee championship team that goes to the Québec tournament. We did a shootout in between periods, you know. To all you guys that said I never played here, I did play here once (laughter). ”
Quick on how old he was when he played at MSG:
“12.”
Quick on this year’s team compared to 2012:
“It’s tough to compare. It was a couple of years ago. Obviously we got a lot of new guys. We got a lot of guys that were around for that run. But, you know, we were able to find ways to win games then. We’ve been able to do that so far this year. The only difference right now is that team won 16 games, and we haven’t won 16 yet, so we’re going to keep working.”
Quick on if he is having fun:
“Like I said, this is the time you work so hard to play in the playoffs. It’s most fun to play in these types of games, these types of environments. Maybe it seems like I’m not having fun. Whether you win or lose, these are the games that you want to play. This is why you work so hard, to play in these types of games.”
Quick on Mats Zuccarello’s open net shot and if he got a piece of it with his stick:
“I don’t know. Yeah, no, I don’t know. I know there was my stick, his stick. I think one of our defensemen was there, too. I don’t know if it took a weird hop or something. It was kind of a scramble. I don’t know. I forget.”
Quick on if he ever worried if he could get back to the level he’s at now, after surgery:
“Well, the back surgery was two years ago. This year was the grind. I didn’t have any surgery or anything this year. It’s just more of a let it heal type of mentality for that injury. You know, when I came back, obviously we took all the proper precautions to make sure that it was 100% healed, you know, that I was in shape, everything felt good going into my first game with the team. I was playing good hockey when I came back. I don’t think it was much of a question. But obviously it’s something you don’t want to aggravate or anything like that.”