June 7 postgame quotes: Mike Stothers

On the overtime win:
Again, it’s a game that was decided in overtime. It’s not going to be easy for either team, and you know what? I thought they were a much better hockey club today than they were yesterday, and I knew they were a good team. We’re going into Utica, and we ourselves are going to have to be better as a collective group.

On how the team assumed control of the game in the third period:
You know what? I would agree with you. I did like that third period. What I didn’t like was the second period. I thought that was probably the roughest period we’ve had in the playoffs so far, and I think that’s going to happen when you’re playing a really good team. Their forecheck, they came in determined to spend more time in our end. We weren’t as crisp as we needed to be, and we spent too much time in there, we spent too much time in the penalty box as far as I’m concerned. Not because of officiating, but because of ourselves. Got to make that clear. It wasn’t the officiating. You know what? We know we can play better, and it’s just like Travis said last night about his team. He knew his team could play better. I think you haven’t seen the best of the two teams yet.

On the Monarchs’ undefeated home postseason record:
I have no idea. I mean, we’ve been good at home, and we were pretty good out there on the road, too. You’ve got to be consistent. If you look at their record in the regular season, they’re good at home, and they’re good on the road. That’s why these two teams are playing off against each other.

On whether Utica did a better job of containing the Mersch-Weal-O’Neill line:
I have to look more closely at the video, but I mean, it’s a pretty good line, so you know they’re going to put some good people out against them, and we have not made a habit of relying on any one line or any one individual all season long, so there are going to be nights where it’s not physically possible for them to do everything, and tonight the game-winning goal was not by line. That’s the depth you have to have, and you’ve got to have other guys step up.

On whether it was difficult to not have Jeff Schultz in the lineup:
You know what? I think it was. I mean, we’ve played without Schultzy this year. It was tough for Rainer to get in after being out for a length of time and then trying to jump into that pace. In the finals, it’s ramped up to another level. But I think he got his feet underneath him. He’s such a good skater, and he’s a great competitor, so I think he got better as he went. You know what? We, all season long, have never concentrated or worried about who’s not playing. We know that whoever the 20 guys that are dressed will give us everything we’ve got. So there’s no sense crying over it or worrying about it. Who’s next? Who wants to be the next guy? Who’s going to step up with a big play? Who’s going to play a good game for us?

On whether it was difficult to choose between playing Kevin Raine or Nick Ebert:
You know what? That was a really tough decision, absolutely. I knew somebody’s feelings were probably going to be hurt. You know what? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. We’ve got our collective group of guys, there isn’t any ego in the room. Eebs was disappointed that he wasn’t the guy, but he was fully supportive of Rainey, and you know what? That’s the way it’s been all season long, and it was a tough, tough decision. Either way, I think we’ve got a quality hockey player going into the lineup. So that’s not an issue for me. We know that whoever’s going in can play.