On what the power play success this season can be attributed to, whether a new assistant coach, better ability to bury the puck, better zone entry, or something else:
“Maybe a little bit of everything. I think a lot of it has to do with just being familiar with each other on the ice. When you have new guys inserted into the power play, I think it takes a little bit to get comfortable with where everybody is on the ice and what you want to do and what you’re looking for. I think a little bit of everything kind of bumps you up a couple percent.”
On his responsibilities when manning the point on the power play:
“I think it’s just to see what is out there. We obviously want the puck in Kopi’s hands as much as possible. He makes a lot of plays, and then from there it’s whatever they give us, whether it’s getting that shot through or looking for Drew or finding Jeff in the mid zone there and Brown is at the net. So there’s certain things – you’re shooting to score some times, you’re shooting for tips, but most of it runs through Kopi and what he’s doing with the puck.”
On whether he was trying to bank the puck off Jeff Carter in overtime against Dallas:
“No, I was just throwing it there. It just kind of got to a point where you’ve just got to put it in a five-foot span of him, and he somehow finds a [way] to put it in there. At first, I wanted to shoot it, and then I was just going around the guy and almost painted myself into a corner there and just tried to get the puck to the net and luckily it went in.”
On whether the team expected to win the game in overtime on Sunday:
“I thought we were playing well and keeping them to a little time in the zone. Quickie made some big saves there to keep it tied, and I think just with the way we were playing, the confidence was there and we weren’t sitting back in overtime. I think we were really pushing and wanted to get it finished.”
On whether it is beneficial to face desperate opponents leading up to the playoffs:
“Yeah, I think so, and we know firsthand what it means to go into playoffs on a high note and playing well. It’s nice to [be] playing teams that are in that desperate role because you’ve got to match that desperation if not surpass it if you’re going to have success.”
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