On how he would “rate” Ben Scrivens as a “backup”:
We’re obviously confident in him. We haven’t seen him play that much. His [first] start on the road this year was a shutout in Florida, and he’s been in [five] times and has played really well for us off the bench, so we’re looking forward to seeing him.
On the Western Conference:
It’s a tough division, right off the top. [Reporter: What makes it so tough?] I think you have four teams that are coming off division wins or conference championships or Stanley Cup championships. It makes it tough. It puts a benchmark there always, and that’s sort of what you’re striving to do, is to…try and figure out how we’re going to keep pace with a team like Chicago.
On how the Kings have played thus far:
If we’re almost at the 20-game mark, and…to pro rate it out, we’re into right now over 100 points. It’s probably the best regular season the team may have ever had after 20 games. I’m happy with the way we’re playing. Obviously the injuries have affected the lineup. You just don’t say, ‘This guy can go in for that guy.’ We lost the leading goal scorer in the Western Conference [from] last year in Jeff Carter, and we’ve lost our number one goalie, who’s top-five or six in the league. The injuries have and are playing a part in our performance, for sure.
On what he sees in the New York Islanders:
I think top-end guys. They remind me a lot of a team that we play out west in Colorado.
On the banners commemorating Duane and Brent Sutter’s championships at Nassau Coliseum:
They got six of ‘em, so out of respect I look at ‘em.
On where he has seen growth from Tanner Pearson, on or off the ice:
I just saw him last night. He didn’t grow. I’ve seen him literally for 20 minutes in November, so growth? I don’t know. [Reporter Had you see any change in him since his game in the playoffs last year?] No. He earned his way into the lineup in the playoffs, and he earned his way into the lineup tonight.
On any difference between the way Scrivens and Quick play the puck:
There’s an elite four or five guys in the league that play it as good as defensemen, and then everybody else plays it just about the same. I think that Jonathan and Ben would play it just about the same. The difference always is the communication. Jonathan might say something different to the defensemen than Ben might say, so they just have to get used to that. [Reporter: You were telling me that Ben’s a little more chatty. A little more communication from him.] All those guys from – where’s he from? Yale? [Reporter: Cornell.] Cornell. So obviously he’s going to be a little more chatty. I think the difference between Jonathan and Ben, so…
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