December 18 postgame quotes: Detroit

Jimmy Howard, on Niklas Kronwall’s goal:
Take it and run with it that’s pretty much it. I’m sure we’re all going to get a good look to see what happened on the goal but I don’t know, I really don’t know what to say about it.

Howard, on the home win:
Huge. We’re talking this morning about how we had to be a little more desperate out there, bear down a little bit more in front of the net and we were able to, even if one was lucky, we were able to get two points tonight and that’s all that matters at the end of the day.

Howard, on a late Kings opportunity:
It definitely could’ve been. It was a one-timer up top. I didn’t exactly see where it went after it hit Richards, he was planted right in front of me and Carter was hit there but all the guys kept fighting.

Howard, on the Kronwall goal:
I don’t even know what to say because I didn’t see it so I don’t really make any comments on it.

Howard, on the shootout win:
It felt really good. Still not a huge fan of a skills competition settling a game but we were able to get two points here tonight and that’s all that matters.

Howard, on Tomas Tatar:
He’s a great kid. He comes to the rink every single day, he works hard, he’s got a constant smile on his face and you know he’s a very likable guy, a very great teammate, a good teammate in here and we enjoy having him around.

Howard, on his scuffle with Jonathan Quick:
We were just discussing what we were going to do over in Sochi together, who we were going to bring. I told him I was bringing my parents and my sister and I asked him who he was bringing so it was a good discussion.

Howard, on Kyle Clifford:
I have no idea what he actually said, just got into my face.

Howard, on the scrum:
I was actually exhausted after and was happy that it was TV timeout that I could get a chance to breathe. But you know we did a great job, probably not the smartest time for me to do that in a 1-1 hockey game but it actually might have helped me focus in even more.

Kyle Quincey, on the Howard-Quick exchange:
Quickie was like, Jimmy was pushing him so Quickie had to answer him so he did…Jimmy started it and Quickie came in and answered him and just said you know if you’re going to push our guys, I’m going to push your guys.

Quincey, on the win:
Huge. You know we obviously a great bounce there and then finally winning in the shootout, it feels like the monkey’s off our back so hopefully we continue winning in the shootouts when we get the chance.

Quincey, on the Kronwall goal:
I think we were due for a break. It was a good break for sure.

Tomas Tatar, on the shootout game-winner:
It doesn’t really matter. I’m so happy we won and won in a shootout and a home game. Obviously I was happy I scored and made up for the Winter Classic attempt. I think fans deserve it, the team deserve it. We just played really well, I think.

Tatar, on Kronwall’s goal:
I have no clue what happened. I’m the last guy that knows. I probably will see it last. No clue. I don’t know why somehow we get the puck from the point, from there was the shot and I just drive to the net and next thing you know everybody’s celebrating. So I have no clue how the puck went in. I heard some rumors it was off the back net. I just couldn’t see that.

Tatar, on the team’s ability to regroup after allowing a late power play goal:
I was down because I think it’s hard to call a penalty at that time of game. I don’t know, I didn’t see if it was a penalty or not. It doesn’t really matter for us. We just said to ourselves we gotta score a goal and we have another power play there. I was really happy we scored and we tied the game. Since then we just gained more confidence again and we had lots more chances. They had chances too but I think we deserved the win. We battled hard and with our injuries, what we have, we just stick together.”

Tatar, on an emotional week:
But when I’m on the ice I’m not trying to think about it a lot. Obviously, the goals, the couple goals, I don’t know how long it’s going to take for him. I’m not thinking about it. Guys try to get me off it. When I’m with somebody, I’m not really thinking about stuff like that, I’m focusing more on hockey and other stuff. There’s a time for that at home when I talk to my family. Right now as soon as I get to the rink, I try to focus just for hockey…It’s huge for me. I’m not sure what I would be if I wouldn’t play hockey. This kind of stuff make you feel about different stuff than what happened. I think hockey for me right now is real helpful.

Tatar, on Jimmy Howard:
He’s playing outstanding, I think, right now. We just need to help him a little bit more with scoring more goals but I think it’s maybe an issue of our injuries. But it doesn’t really matter for us. We’re sticking together. We had lots of chances actually today to score goals. I think we are on a good pace and we are coming there.”

-stick tap to Bill Roose and Larry Lage for Detroit post-game quotes