On why the team continues to win games it falls behind in:
We played much better last night. We don’t tend to have the lead always. I think we’ve been through that quite a bit here in Los Angeles.…I think we get better as the series goes on. Based on the series, based on goals scored, we’re in pretty good position.
On whether he expects Anze Kopitar to start scoring more:
Scoring? I think he’s leading the playoffs in scoring, I think. Not necessarily the goals part of it. He was a major component of two goals last night that we scored. A big part of our team, obviously.
On any type of mental advantage given the way Los Angeles has won:
I don’t know about the other team. But for us, you’re never not of the belief that you can’t come back or you’re not going to win. We’ve played a lot of hockey in May and June over the past three seasons. You have to do that at some point during series or during games. It’s just the belief in that. It’s not so much to do with the Rangers. It’s sticking to our game, guys making a difference here or there. Last night, just because it was 2-0 had nothing to do with the game before. We didn’t play better last night because the Rangers had a 2-0 lead in Game 1. But we did play better last night.
On whether the physicality is beginning to take its toll on New York:
I think last night was a really even match in that last night, both ways. The physical part of the game – both teams demonstrated it at points during the game. I thought our first period was our best period of that. Speed is only a factor if one team…One team is not faster than the other. That is not an issue. When one of the teams turns the puck over, it makes it looks like somebody is faster.
On Jeff Carter weathering a hit from Ryan McDonagh in the first period:
He came back and played 20-some minutes last night. [Reporter: Is he OK today?] We’re not discussing, or I’m not discussing injuries anymore because I don’t have to. It makes no sense for me to talk about injuries when all it does is gives information to the other team.
On Drew Doughty’s performance:
He played extremely well for us. When you win in overtime, you play that long, better not be picking apart players. They leave it all out there. [Reporter: Drew was 41:41 yesterday, was Drew getting better when he was in that 32, 35, 37 range?] Getting better? He was more sustaining his game than getting better. It’s not easy to play that much or play that long.
On whether he takes any credit for his team’s mental toughness:
No, I’m not very mentally tough. I can barely get through it.
On any changes now that Los Angeles is on the road and without last change:
We all roll lines, but I think you have to try to make sure who is on the ice in certain situations. You have centerman, you have defenseman.It’s a challenge. You’re not going to play a series without playing games on the road. That’s the best part of playing the Rangers, you get to play in Madison Square Garden. For sure the best of the old-time buildings. [Reporter: What did you think of the renovations when you were here earlier this year?] I thought they did a good job. From a hockey standpoint, the boards, ice, benches were all a significant change obviously from before.
On whether it has “mattered” where they play:
It’s mattered. We’ve had good games on the road and we’ve had games where guys have struggled. The last series we played, we played really good in the United Center. Game 1, we lost 3-1, I thought we played our best game of the series. Then we lost in overtime. We thought we played really well. Then we won in there. You know, we trust ourselves on the road. That’s what you try and do.
On whether visitors are excited to play at Madison Square Garden:
I’ve been coming to Madison Square Garden for 30-some years. I know it’s been refurbished, but the fans are still the same. They love their team and they hate the other team. That’s what you like. You like going into buildings that are like that. They’re loud, they say they hate you, all those things, it’s good.
On whether the length of time Robyn Regehr has been out is a factor in deciding to play him:
I believe yesterday it’s five weeks. Darn right it’s a consideration when you think about it.
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