December 15 postgame quotes: Toffoli, Martinez

Tyler Toffoli, on getting an early goal and the two points:
I think that start really helped us. I think, not even with the goal but a couple shifts after, we kept putting pressure and doing the right things and I think we just built off of that. Even when they scored we didn’t panic, we just kept playing the right way and played a really nice game.

Toffoli, on limiting the Red Wings to just 18 shots:
I mean, just not turning the pucks over. I think we did a good job of hanging onto pucks in their zone. I think that’s so big when we’re not chasing them and they’re getting shots off the rush and hemming us in our zone when we’re tired. So I think we did a good job with that, and you know, some huge blocks, especially at the end. Greener, Carts, Marty had one, so just tightening up and not panicking and just making nice little plays and getting out of our zone.

Toffoli, on what he saw before his breakaway goal:
I just heard our bench yelling and then I took a quick peek and saw I was by myself and just finally one went in for me.

Alec Martinez, on playing what could be his last game at Joe Louis Arena:
…such a big part of your childhood, but at the end of the day I’m just glad we got the two points. Big game for us bouncing back from the last one and we weren’t happy with our performance and to come in to a tough building against such a good team and get the win is the most improtant thing.

Martinez, on limiting the Red Wings to just 18 shots:
I think we were just better in our own end. You know, I think we were quicker to contact, took away time and space and we were just better on breakouts. When you’re cleaner on breakouts you don’t play in your end as much as you obviously do if you’re not getting out. I think it was probably both of those and we had some good PKs too and limited their shots that way, so that helps.

Martinez, on Jeff Zatkoff’s performance against the Red Wings:
He did an unbelievable job and on the road you need good goaltending, too, and he certainly provided that for us and he bailed us out on a couple mistakes that we made and I can’t say enough about the guy. Glad he was able to get the win, especially in his hometown.