Penner postgame quotes (Jan. 14)

Dustin Penner’s postgame thoughts…

(on rebounding from a tough first period…)
PENNER: “We want to work on our first periods. They’re not always our strong point, but I think we have a good foundation, a home base, so that even if we’re not where we want to be in the first period, we’re solid enough defensively that we’re not going to get behind too far. To get out of the first, after they had won eight (consecutive) games in this building, at 0-0, I think it was a positive. Then we just broke free in the second.”

(on scoring four goals again…)
PENNER: “You kind of get into a funk, with that cloud over your head, where nothing is going in and you’re scratching and clawing for two goals. Now, we’re getting a lot of chances. Our power play is clicking. The PK is there, like it’s always been, and same with our defensive play. I think we’re just really bearing down on our chances.’’

(on the improved power play…)
PENNER: “Execution. There aren’t too many fadeaway plays, where you’re on the back of your heels trying to make a pass. It’s very focused. Everybody is in an athletic position. We’re trying to do what the coach tells us, and I think we’re getting a lot of shots through, and screens in front.’’

(on Kopitar playing despite being hurt…)
PENNER: “He needs a little R&R here. The All-Star break is coming soon. Obviously he wasn’t selected, which he probably should have been, but he can take the break there, to rest up.’’

(on Darryl Sutter getting the win…)
PENNER: “He was pretty intense all day, more so than usual. … The way he spoke, and what he said, you could tell this meant a lot to him, and we were happy to get it for him.’’