February 24 practice quotes: Dustin Penner

On the team’s performance versus Colorado:
“Yeah, it was a good game yesterday from start to finish. We didn’t draw any penalties – we drew one, but we didn’t really have a power play – so that’s something we’d like to do, to give our power play more opportunities to score goals for us and get confidence. Our PK was really good. There’s not much you can do about their goal. They scored four-on-three. It’s probably a Hall-of-Fame player in Hejduk the way he’s maintained his offensive output throughout his career. But Quickie played unbelievable. He made some big saves early on, especially in the first when we got those two quick goals and Colorado got their feet under them. They came at us pretty hard, but we held our own and it was kind of just a steady game where we got better incrementally throughout it.”

On his assist on Anze Kopitar’s goal:
“I was slashing through the middle and Kinger had the puck. We kind of made eye contact where I wanted him to chip it. So when he chipped it, it was a perfect chip where I could skate into it with speed, and it was a bit of a mismatch with the Colorado player, so I just held on to the puck, saw Kopi come off the bench, waited until he was in position, and then he made a great shot – post and in.”

On keys to the team’s resurgence since the Detroit game:
“Puck possession, holding on to the puck. It has been really good. Our special teams have been better, and I think Darryl touched on it that we’ve had some good competition between our two goaltenders. I think subconsciously – not trying to out-do one another – but just it’s a healthy competition between the two of them.”