Gaborik, Lewis discuss approach for today’s big game

Marian Gaborik, on what the team did well in the loss to Anaheim:
Well, certainly we played better than we did in previous games against those guys. Obviously, again, we’re going into the third with a lead and gave it up within a few minutes. That shouldn’t happen, so obviously there needs to be some corrections in some places there. I think we got that point, that big goal by Willie there at the end. Kesler has been the difference throughout the whole series against for those guys, he’s been on fire. We could’ve come out on top, but at the same time we got the point and we’ll move forward and focus on [Saturday] night.

Gaborik, on whether there is an adjustment they need to make offensively:
Yeah, we need to push ourselves into the net and drive to the net off the walls. I always say try to get those ugly goals, drive to net and don’t pass up shots. Obviously our shots have been a little bit low lately, so we just have to try to shoot as much as we can, drive the net, make it uncomfortable for the goalie and create a lot of traffic I guess. That’s the same story all along. When you don’t score a lot of goals, just try to push yourself to the net and get those loose pucks.

Gaborik, on whether there is a sense of over-confidence in facing Vancouver:
No, not at all. We approach that game like every other division game. Obviously it’s a big game, but we seem to have success against those guys. We need to keep having a good start and just keep playing the whole 60 minutes. We’ve had some success against those guys, but I don’t think it’s a matter of over-confidence. Everybody is going to be ready and we’re not going to take anything lightly, that’s for sure.

Gaborik, on facing the Sedin twins:
Those guys are top guys in terms of offense. We’ve been doing a good job checking them and we just need to keep doing it. Of course they have a good power play as well, so try to stay out of the box and have a good PK. Also, we scored some big goals on the power play against them but their PK is very good so we have to try to get more momentum and get the pucks to the net.

Gaborik, on Eddie Lack:
He’s a young goalie obviously. He’s good, so we just have to get a lot of pucks on net on him and make it uncomfortable for him. That’s the bottom line.

Trevor Lewis, on how the team played in Anaheim:
I don’t think we gave up too many chances. I think our forecheck was alright. I think we can be better on the forecheck and getting more chances ourselves. I think we can get to the net more, throw a puck there and get second and third chances.

Lewis, on whether the team has to get more traffic at the front of the net:
Yeah, I think so. Most goalies in the league, they see it, they’re going to stop it. Traffic is a big thing and obviously those loose pucks in front, those dirty goals, they’re big especially this time of year. We need to start getting them.

Lewis, on whether there is a different approach for tomorrow’s game:
No, I don’t think so. I think we just need to play our game. We know how big of a game it is, how important it is. It’s for a playoff position, so we have to make sure we come out ready to go right off the bat and contain it for a full 60 minutes.

Lewis, on whether over-confidence is a concern:
I think we’ve got a good leadership group in this room and they make sure we’re not too over-confident or too cocky if we beat someone that much. We know they’ve got a great team and they’ve got a lot of solid players over there and a lot of guys that can hurt you offensively. So we have to make sure we’re good on our checking game and play our game.

Lewis, on the importance of shutting down the Sedin twins:
They’re two of the most dangerous guys on the ice in the league. We’ve got to make sure we check and I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that this year, but we have to make sure we’re on top of it again.

Lewis, on Eddie Lack:
He’s a big guy. He doesn’t give up a whole lot, there’s not a whole lot to shoot at. I think, like we were talking about earlier, we’ve got to get bodies there and pucks there and get those second, third chances and dirty goals.

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