May 6 practice quotes: Darryl Sutter

On the keys towards the winning streak:
We just take it one game at a time, shift at a time, period at a time. All those things like that. [Reporter: It’s almost like fundamentally they are as good as they’ve been all year?] Actually, fundamentally we weren’t pretty good last night.

On whether the Kings were better in Game 3 versus San Jose than Game 2 versus Anaheim:
I can’t remember much about the San Jose series.

On Alec Martinez’s performance:
Well, first off, when you play in the NHL, you’re supposed to hustle your butt off, otherwise you probably don’t last very long in the NHL. [Reporter: But in this series, the way he’s played?] I thought you were talking about the last three years, though. [Reporter: Since March.] In this series, obviously we have some injuries on our back end, and guys have to assume different roles, and we will win or we will lose with them.

On what Kyle Clifford has been doing well:
He gave us some energy last night. Didn’t play the whole series against San Jose. We’re trying to put lineups and players in that give your team the best opportunity to win hockey games.

On Jeff Schultz’s Game 2 performance:
Jeff? I think, Lisa, he did exactly what we wanted. We wanted him to replace Robyn Regehr in the lineup and play in those situations, kill penalties, a lot of defensive zone faceoff situations, be on the ice against the other team’s top players. Basically it’s no different than talking about Martinez or Voynov. It’s time for those players to show what they’re made of and show if they’re able to play against the best team in the NHL.

On the challenge of keeping a competitive “edge” with two days off before Game 3:
I’m not really concerned about losing an edge. I’m more concerned about finding an edge and making sure the walking wounded are feeling a little bit better as each day goes along.

On what Mike Richards has been doing well, if not scoring:
He’s second on our team in shots, next to Gaborik. That’s significant.

On Drew Doughty being the receiving end of physical play and other altercations:
I think that’s pretty normal. Quite honest, the question wouldn’t even be being asked if Drew wouldn’t have been hurt late in the season, and if he wouldn’t have gotten whacked on the knee last night and left the ice. Otherwise, nobody would’ve even noticed. It’s pretty normal for top players at playoff time to be shadowed. It’s pretty normal.

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