October 8 postgame quotes: San Jose

Todd McLellan, on whether the pregame ceremony added “fuel to the fire”:
No. They earned the right to have that pregame ceremony, and they obviously enjoyed it. The fans were rewarded for it, that’s why they played for the Stanley Cup at the end of the year. Once that was over, the game started. The rivalry is always going to be there, and it was there again tonight.

McLellan, on whether pregame ceremony worked to Sharks’ advantage:
I thought that if we could get the lead it would work. If they got the lead and the energy built then, you know, it was important for us to score first and try and build on it. Obviously it’s a tough night for them to play, but it’s not an easy night for us either.

McLellan, on Antti Niemi’s save on Jeff Carter’s wraparound in a 1-0 game:
You look back at moments, probably at that moment you don’t, but it obviously was [a big moment], and at 1-1 who knows where it goes. But for us to get it to two, and get those two quick goals after certainly helped us.

Tommy Wingels, on the win:
It’s one game, they had a lot going on before the game, which, you don’t need a lot of attention, and we were able to come out and start well. Something we had talked about, you know when you’re sitting around here when they have a lot going on, you kind of have a relaxed atmosphere, we were ready to go at puck drop, and sustain it throughout the game, and it was a good first 60 minutes for us this season.

Wingels, on scoring the first goal:
I think, especially on the road, you want to have your first couple of shifts in the offensive zone. In a building like this, they could’ve had so much momentum. We were able to get some momentum early and carry it throughout the game.

Wingels, on winning in Los Angeles:
It’s been a long summer thinking about this game. When the schedule came out, and this was our first game, the media loved it, the fans loved it, but us players loved it too. Not a better way to start a season, and for us to be able to come in here, have success here and get a win, it’s big.

Joe Thornton, on the win:
You always want to win the first one, obviously they were probably a little distracted tonight with all that went on, but it’s nice to come in here and get a win, it’s been a long time.

Thornton, on beating the Kings:
It doesn’t matter, it’s a new season, they’re the champs, we have to get through them to be where we want to be, and tonight was a good start for that.

Thornton, on the wait during the ceremony:
It was a long wait, we really just stressed to each other to get off to a good start, they had been on the ice for a while, and we knew a good start would go a long way.

Thornton, on what the Sharks were doing during the ceremony:
Just hanging out, watching games, relaxing.