On what he liked offensively:
Well, we got our power play going, for sure. I think the guys did a good job early at putting pucks to the net, and the one play with the Kempe line, I thought they did a really good job of really penetrating the middle of the ice and getting to the net. I do think we got people around the net, got pucks to the net, created some offense, so I think we did that at times, and there were times we played on our heels.
On what he was told by the officials prior to the first penalty shot:
I wasn’t told anything. I had to sit back and watch. We all felt that [Anze Kopitar] reached but didn’t really commit a foul. There was obviously some doubt in the officials’ mind as well, because they gathered together and then stuck with the call, which was the original call. So, I didn’t agree with that one. The other one, I think is an automatic. You knock the net off in the last two minutes intentionally, it’s a penalty shot. But I didn’t get an explanation.
On whether he was surprised another goaltender interference call went against the team:
I’m not sure. We’re just trying to get a little more clarification. I’ve actually asked for that from the last game just to know, because I saw a play tonight with Dallas that looked almost exactly the same for us as the one that was allowed, and this one was disallowed. It’s tough on the referees, too. I’d just like to have a little more direction on it, so moving forward you don’t waste a timeout because you kind of know what they’re looking for. But I’m still not sure what that is. Tonight, I thought it was worth a shot. They stand in the blue pain, and I thought it was iffy at best, but I thought it was worth a shot. I felt more confident the other night on the one in St. Louis.
On Michael Amadio’s first NHL goal:
Yeah, it’s great. He’s actually played well. That’s why he’s stayed in the lineup. He’s a kid that’s scored lots from where he played in junior. He’s very opportunistic around the net, and it was great. Obviously, it was a big goal for us in the hockey game, too, but to see him get his first goal was great. [Reporter: Do you recall your first one?] In the National Hockey League? Still waiting for it.
On Nick Shore rejoining the lineup and generating chemistry with his line:
Yeah, I thought the Kempe line was really good for us. Shoresy and Lewie and Cammy – Shoresy and Lewie have had chemistry regardless of who plays with them, so we’re going to ask them to play some hard minutes for us, but I thought they had a couple really good cycle shifts there. That play at the end of the period where they cycle, cycle, cycle and end up scoring a goal, those to me are big momentum builders for you. Certainly to have another right-shot faceoff guy in the lineup, a guy that can kill penalties and play hard minutes was helpful.
On why the team is 9-1-0 against the Eastern Conference:
I’m not sure. We’ve had our hands full, I know that. Even tonight, I thought Toronto played a very good gam e in the back-to-back. Our record’s been pretty good so far, so I don’t know if it’s been specific to the east. We know we have to play good defense, we know we can’t give up the rush game, so I think it really gets us on our guard the way we have to play, because a lot of teams have been playing the same way throughout the east with a very good rush game and offensive attack. So, if anything it really forces us to focus on being a good checking team.
On the biggest turnarounds from last week’s game versus Toronto, as well as from last season:
I think the loss in Toronto, I don’t think we checked well enough. I thought, quite honestly, after the first period tonight we gave up way too much. I thought we sat back. I don’t think we managed the game very well where four-on-four situations, giving up breakaways, those types of things. You have to learn. I mean, I’d rather learn when we’re winning. I think the fact that we’re getting production outside of just top guys has been helpful, and tonight getting production from our power play’s been helpful. But we’ve had different parts of our lineup that’s contributed. If I had to put a big difference on that, I think our top guys’ games have been on this year. It’s really helped lead the team.
-Lead photo via Aaron Poole/NHLI
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