Murray postgame quotes

Terry Murray’s postgame thoughts…

(on the game…)
MURRAY: “It’s a huge two points for us, to come back in the third period, to tie it up and to start to play better. We went through a stretch there in that game… I really liked the way we started. Near the end of the first period, we started getting a little cute with the pucks, the plays, and we stopped doing the things that were working. We basically went through the same in the second period. So I think the character test there was pretty big. You’re coming back off a couple power-play opportunities, 5-on-3, extended time on the power plays, and nothing good was happening, really. We had some opportunities but no traffic, moving the puck around. I thought it became a little frustrating for the bench as we got through those power-play opportunities. It was a lot of work, to get back at it and show some confidence and manage the puck and then, finally, pick away at it and get something done to tie it up.”

(on Dustin Brown’s recent strong play…)
MURRAY: “He’s making plays. He’s carrying the puck. He’s looking for those options now, as he’s attacking, rather than doing a lot of that 1-on-1 stuff. And better things are happening as a result of that. I’ve just got to reinforce it. I’ve got to show the video to him and talk to him and reinforce those plays, because it opens up the ice for him. He’s such a great skater, and powerful skater, that if works that give-and-go, he’s going to get around any defenseman and he’s going to get the puck back more times than not, because he’s going to be a threat coming off that right side. So it’s much improved.”

(on the 5-on-3 struggles…)
MURRAY: “Well, we had the opportunities on the 5-on-3s. We’re still getting the offensive-zone time and moving the puck around. We need to establish some better traffic. Most of our plays are coming from the top, with the defensemen or Stoll on the one-timer. You’ve got to get traffic in front of the net. Most goalies in the league, that are good ones, are going to stop those plays. That’s the only change that we’ve got to focus in on, and emphasize that we have to have those guys there.”

(on the tight race for playoff spots in the West…)
MURRAY: “I think it’s going to stay real close. This Western Conference, to me, it’s incredible how any team can win on any given night. You could have 13, 14 teams in there, for crying out loud, in there until the very end. That battle for that final two, three playoff spots is going to stay interesting, right through to the end. I would like to move away from that `interesting,’ (make it) much less, absolutely.”