If there were any jitters for Jordan Nolan in his Stanley Cup Finals debut on Wednesday, he certainly didn’t show them. Nolan played 11 minutes, 26 seconds, and made an outstanding play in the first period to win the puck behind the Devils’ net, then center it to Colin Fraser for the Kings’ first goal of Game 1. Beyond that, Nolan totaled four hits in the game and was fast to the puck in all situations.
Nolan is a 22-year-old rookie, but he could get plenty of advice and support from his father, Ted, who played and coached in the NHL and also won three championships as a junior-hockey coach. Jordan Nolan’s brother Brandon also had a seven-year pro career, including a six-game stint in the NHL. Darryl Sutter was asked about Nolan’s game…
SUTTER: “He gives us some size, gives us some speed. Last night was the most minutes he played in the playoffs. There’s nights where he’s played four or five shifts, four or five minutes, so — keep him clear on his role and play it. Right now we’re relatively healthy and there’s competition to play. He plays well, he stays in the lineup.’’
The kid reminds me of a mix between Kyle Clifford and Wayne Simmonds. I remember the play he made late during the season on the half wall where he stick handled in place and set up his linemate for a perfect pass/score.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@Steve Jensen,
So, if Simmer & KFC had a baby … yeah, I could see that …
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InTheCrease Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@Duncanz, Hopefully you mean you can visualize the outcome, not the process itself…
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:30 pm
@InTheCrease,
red49er Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:15 pm
@Steve Jensen, better hands, same grit, less of a fighter but good when its right, this guy has real hockey sense and I believe he will be very important to the
Kings for a long time
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Nolan has been playing lights out. Look for him to get a goal at some point. His dad has taught him well. What a move bringing these Kids in.
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Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com) Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:24 pm
@King Charles of Salt Lake,
He (and King) skate in every optional practice. I imagine he not only does it because he’s a rookie, but because his dad did just that…taught him well.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:25 pm
@Paul Armbruster (KingsNewsDaily.com),
@Harty says JN was under advisement from within to do so.
I’d back that source!
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Osaka Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:38 pm
@King Charles of Salt Lake, Well said.
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he also had the biggest hit of the game….
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FdoFmFull Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:42 pm
@tornado12, He also banged away at Brodeur’s doorstep hoping to jam in the puck at the end of a very good shift that exemplefies how Nolan, Fraser, and Richardson brought all the elments of a great forecheck as well as scoring last game.
Particularly sweet when you consider that the Eastern media were practically cmoing all over themselves in fawning over New Jersey’s 4th line!
GkG!
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“keep him clear on his role and play it.” Probably the message conveyed to each and every King.
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Clifford had 5 points in 6 playoff games last year at the age of 20, 2 years younger than Nolan.Richardson is getting knocked around out there and next game is going to get even tougher. Remember, we haven’t won it yet….time to tweak a bit maybe?
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Osaka Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:40 pm
@Donald, I think Gagne would go in for Richardson before Clifford.
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cromartee Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:41 pm
@Osaka,
Gagne will go in before Westgarth but not anybody else.
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Donald Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:59 pm
@Osaka, doubt it
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KC23 Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 10:13 am
@Osaka, I think we’ll see Gagne before to long go in for Richardson before too long. Nolan and Fraser were great on the 4th line, but Richardson really didn’t impress me at all.
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cromartee Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:40 pm
@Donald,
I like Clifford and the can’t be overrated edge (him and Brown) he brings for the offense guys is like Matt Greene for the D. He adds tension to the game.
But I expect DS to stick with Nolan who has done amazingly well and is getting better all the time. DS has been keeping with the formula that has been kicking butt and he aint gonna change it now without good reason.
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number 6 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:06 pm
@cromartee,
Clifford upon close reflection has taken some very poorly timed and unnecessary penalties. I don’t think that the place to finally get that lesson in a rather harsh way would be in the finals…. especially if it lead to a critical goal against.
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cromartee Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:17 pm
@number 6,
Agreed I wouldn’t change the lineup now unless something happens. True about the penalties but that’s actually true of most players to some degree. Clifford could probably draw them as much as take them. I like players to play with abandon and hopefully the coach feels that way and given that, Clifford is probably an unnecessary risk as of today.
The addition of Nolan and King was huge. The signing of Sutter, Carter, adding the increased time for Martinez and Voynov, the aforementioned deadly duo. My trifecta.
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When are they going to play Gagne?
Let’s get this out of the way early…
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DEH Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:02 pm
@Diego, second line with Richards next year. Kopi + Brown = deadly.
Brown Kopi Williams
Gagne Richards Carter/Toffoli
King Carter/Lokti Toffoli/Carter/Lewis
Clifford Cliche Nolan
This assumes Penner, Stoll, Parse, and Fraser do not get resigned and Toffoli at least plays part time in the NHL next season… and we don’t make a move to get Parise and/or get offense in return for Bernier.
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OneTimer Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 10:05 am
@DEH, Sorry- but that’s a boatload of if’s.
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vplaza Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:03 pm
@Diego,
At Frozen Fury.
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scott Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@vplaza, Perfect time
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:21 pm
Can’t believe we’re wishing our lives away like this, guys!
Eyes back on the prize or somehing, Beavis …
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:01 pm
@Duncanz, Ditto that…I’m focusing on this group and want them all back next year no matter how absurd it sounds…it may not happen but hey……We can dream, about THIS year. The time is NOW
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cromartee Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:20 pm
@Duncanz,
He was just trying to give Gagne a job since the probability of him playing this year is close to zero. (Of course he didn’t have to give half the team away to make his point.)
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I never thought I’d say this….
But…Thank god for Barry Melrose…
If it wasn’t for Barry’s love
We’d have no love at all…
Truth is…I think everyone is afraid of the fact
the Kings have been SO good that Devils don’t match up..
Can’t have that with all this Media money…
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PRMan Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:09 pm
@SLIM, Roenick has been picking us consistently as has Mike Keenan. We’re not totally without love, but yeah, it’s pretty sparse.
That’s OK, though. Let them keep telling NJ how good they are.
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number 6 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:11 pm
@SLIM,
Personally Slim, while I just like every other fan here am so so hoping that we win the Cup, to say the Devils don’t match up is a bit naive imo. I watched the game like everyone else….. and while the Kings dominated much of it, the Devils had not one, not two, but like four or five mega chances. They may not have ‘outchanced’ the Kings, but the chances they did have were better than most of the Kings other chances.
Carter in one of the other threads said essentially that they’re a tougher opponent than anyone else we’ve played this playoffs……. Oh, and that was four or five incredible chances in a game where NJ said they didn’t play well.
So, I personally am gonna be a bit prudent in just assuming that the Devils don’t match up.
They have hugely skilled and fast forwards and a HOF goaltender. That’s not really too bad.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:44 pm
@number 6,
I really don’t think they do match up but you have an excellent point.
You wouldn’t know this from watching Game 1.
Having said that, The Kings (DS) have far from worked through the gears of this jalopy. There’s a lot more horsepower left to employ than we saw on Wednesday night.
I think PDB & the NJD can turn it up a gear too. They just don’t have the number of gears the Kings have is all.
Game 2 will reveal a little more, and Game 3 more again after that.
The Kings have a ‘Masterplan’ and will play a finely measured series.
I’m sure of it.
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TiredOfIt Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:09 pm
@SLIM, I think you’re right…It’s so obvious that they are trying to get people to love NJ. How many times have you turned on NHLN(DFN) and seen NJ? They have their best hits, their best goals, all of their cup win highlights, on and on and on and on. I haven’t seen so many devils since I thumbed through copy of Dante’s Inferno. C’MON!!!! Match up? Somewhat yes…overall…IMHO…NO!
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Nolan is the second coming of Gretzky but not as good even though he is Canadien but that doesn’t mean he is very good because this is Stanley Cup Final where you have to be better than the other team because they are good and we need to be better because they warned us that they would play crazy since it is Saturday but we will win the lotto because DD got paid lots of money and we can use the lotto money to sign Parise before Game 3 so the Devils can’t use him no more and we will win the Cup so we can eat cocoa puffs out of it before we take it swimming but I know that popcorn costs a lot of money in jersey so I think you should only eat peanuts while you are there go kings go
Never, ever, ever, eat a whole mega-size Snickers bar in one bite while drinking an extra large slushie from Sonic……..
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Pili Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:46 pm
@DesertKing, I don’t know what to say. LOLOL.
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Diego Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:50 pm
@DesertKing,
I think that’s illegal in NYC.
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CB14 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:04 pm
@DesertKing, So what do you think?
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DesertKing Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:05 pm
@CB14,
Grape slushies are best and the Snickers bars need to be cold for maximum effect.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:17 pm
@DessertKing, …for LA Kings ..
I must say that I was in favor of sitting Jordan Nolan for Kyle Clifford or possibly Simon Gagne if he was close, but I’m glad I’m not paid by the team to make decisions.
He along with that line of Fraser and Richardson were overall the best trio of forwards for the Kings as far as consistency and creating chances on the forecheck.
Good on him and keep up the great work, guys.
Tough game ahead. It won’t be easy, but the Kings are more than capable of doing it if they can execute. I’m sick of hearing all the Devils and their fans’ “we didn’t play the game we’re capable of, we’ll be better next game.” Same goes for the Kings, I say!
GO KINGS GO!
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Pili Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:49 pm
@mash-ola, I admit that I might have considered the same change. Not that it wouldn’t have worked out, but Nolan was key. In Sutter We Most Definitely Trust.
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plywood12 Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 11:45 am
@Pili, We fans work a lot on emotion in our choices as to who plays. DS,as we have seen since he’s been here keeps his emotions in check and relies on what he sees in the games, in practice and makes his decisions on what parts are working and what parts aren’t. That’s why he is such a great coach. The players know this and work very hard to earn the right to keep playgng.
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bbb7 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:49 pm
@mash-ola, Stop me if you’ve seen this before…
If the Kings win Game Two and things go according to the earlier scripts, the Devils and their coach will be complaining about the officiating after the game.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:13 pm
@bbb7,
DeBoer seems the classiest HC we’ve faced so far, bar Hitch.
… be interesting.
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Less than 24 HRS, I’m starting to turn into a long tailed cat.
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Pili Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:54 pm
@Diego, Wow you’re right 23 and change. The Kings can attain a new all time standing. This is huge.
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Regarding the Millergate Saga, Bob says it wouldn’t right to ask Nick to step aside to call the game. That, of course, wouldn’t stop Nick from voluntarily making way for Bob. Does any one know if Nick has made such an offer of if someone in the Kings organization other than Bob has discussed it with him?
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:01 pm
@JackKentCooke,
I wrote extensively on this yesterday.
I believe we’d have heard by now if a decision had been made wrt NN stepping aside on Bob’s behalf – unless they want to surprise us!
Quite honestly, I hope there is no pressure put on Nick to do this.
He has had his own illustrious career with the Kings since 1981, and it would be an affront to encourage him to play second fiddle at his own gig.
Ought to be his choice alone.
Love our Bob & Jim, but love our Nick & Daryl too!
NBC doesn’t have the radio contract.
Way of the world, sadly.
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JackKentCooke Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@Duncanz,
My gut feeling is that if the Kings win it Bob will retire and may do so regardless.
Nick is the obvious heir apparent and will have many more years in the limelight.
If I were Nick, I would make Bob the offer in a heartbeat. In saying that, I don’t dismiss the possibility that he has already done so. It’s just that since the Kings are my science project, I would like to put this thing under the microscope and know all about it. I too love Nick and Daryl, but Bob is the face, heart, soul and DNA of the Kings Franchise and there is no perfect solution under the circumstances.
One nice solution might be for Bob to do the play-by-play, Nick to do the color, as was the case for many years and for Foxy and Daryl to be “inside the glass”.
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JackKentCooke Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:22 pm
@JackKentCooke,
Daryl could interview coach Daryl and it would be like two of the three Daryls from the old Bob Newhart show.
Stuart Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:50 pm
@JackKentCooke, if the kings I hope Bob stays for at least one more year, just so he can say “your defending stanley cup champion Los Angeles King” before, during, and after every game…
TiredOfIt Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:13 pm
@Duncanz, Ya well it (add verb here) sucks the have the best caller of scored goals in the game out of the SCF! I hear what you’re saying but…….OK damn it…you’re right…I want Bob and Jim…..WWWWAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
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Diego Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:15 pm
@JackKentCooke,
“Bob says it wouldn’t right to ask Nick to step aside” and it wouldn’t be, Bob’s a class act..
This is another NHL pooch screw. Local markets should be able to call their own games, NHL can sell the National broadcast with a local blackout.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:56 pm
@Diego, But surely you wouldn’t black out one of your 2 SCF club’s markets, would you?
The NHL hasn’t really screwed anybody.
ESPN didn’t pick up hockey again. Something had to fill the void.
This situation, although unsavory for the Bob & Jim and us is simply a by-product of modern day TV broadcasting rights.
As the man used to say, “You pays your money, you takes your chances.”.
Way of the world, City Hall, no one’s fault, especially.
It’s the system …
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Diego Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:46 pm
@Diego,
We’d still have Bob & Jim and the debs would have Doc or whatever, the rest of the country/world would get whatever the NHL wanted to broadcast which could/would be blacked-out to us.
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cromartee Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 10:32 pm
@Diego,
If Nick Nickson was to step aside for Bob Miller (which he shouldn’t), Bob should refuse to accept. Too bad someone ever brought that up. Bob shouldn’t retire yet.
I agree with what you wrote about the local markets and the NHL. Losing our local broadcast is criminal.
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Forum Gold Reply:
June 2nd, 2012 at 8:39 am
@JackKentCooke, Put Bob and Jim on the sister station KLAC and let everyone have a choice like I do when I go to Staples. GO KINGS GO!!!
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“He plays well, he stays in the lineup” LOL
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Pili Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@Duncanz, Gets right to the point as quickly as anyone I’ve heard LOL.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:04 pm
@Pili,
Ha ha.
Gets to the point as sharply as any heavy mallet I’ve ever seen!
# blunt trauma
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T minus Captain Crunch.
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Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:10 pm
@vplaza, You beaut’ !
T-minus Captain of Her/my Heart ..
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vplaza Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@Duncanz,
Other noteworthy 23′s….Corey Millen, Mike Donnelly, Craig Johnson.
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Stuart Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:51 pm
@vplaza, don’t say CJohnson again for fear that he appears and injures Kopi at a practice
Duncanz Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:04 pm
@vplaza,
How about an honorary mention for Larry Playfair from the eighties …
Surely he must’ve won the Lady Byng!
YoBro Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 9:53 pm
@vplaza, Or Dougie Smith.
Go Kings
Wait! A Teddy’s boy article with no feedback from Teddy’s boy?
What’s up with that?
Not that I can’t have endless fun with DJS quotes or anything … Right?
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I posted in the preseason 2010 that Nolan was a sleeper. He has the potential to be a good hockey player. He’s got good speed and hands. He needs to read plays a little better and work on his biggest weakness which is his turns. If he improves in those two areas he’s capable of having an excellent future in the NHL.
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number 6 Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 7:14 pm
@Crown Royal,
Nice observation. Given his father’s pedigree, I’d hope that Ted would make recommendations such as refining certain aspects of his skating, etc.
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Crown Royal Reply:
June 1st, 2012 at 8:21 pm
@number 6,
He makes the right plays once he gets to where he’s going so his hockey sense is good especially when the Kings have the puck. I like the fact that he’s also a willing back-checker. He has work to do and maybe his dad can help him. I thought his dad was a good coach.
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time flies ~ I use to watch Ted, his dad play tier 2 Jr.
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Once again, I am so happy to see the Devils fourth line interviewed on NHL tonight, hear the Devils miked up while playing and otherwise hear non-stop Devils coverage…’NOT. They spent more time talking about Gaborik’s surgery and Tim Timmons than they did talking about the Kings. LAME coverage!!
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sick hit on Zdlicky!!lil Dustin Brown like eh? NICE TAN TOO !! haha Here we Go BOYS!!! Go KINGS!!!
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I’m still predicting that Stoll and Nolan will have big goal[s] in the play-off this season.
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The media’s having a good time with Darryl Sutter.
On the road winning streak:
“We’ve won one game. Season starts today”.
A SportsCenter anchor disdainfully commented “Well, they’ve won 9 in a row”.
These media guys don’t get Sutter, can’t get his frame of mind and the mindset that he seeks to instill in his players. He’s not making dramatic statements about winning the Cup or the Devils or officiating. I didn’t see that entire Q and A session, but it seemed like the media guys clammed up and ended quicker than usual, right after the winning streak question.
Sorry, guys, he didn’t say what you were expecting. Too focused on the task at hand, because there’s still games to be won and all that matters is Saturday night.
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