Sutter postgame quotes (Feb. 16)

Darryl Sutter’s postgame thoughts…

(on the fighting and penalties…)
SUTTER: “I said, this morning, that it would be a close game, and it was. Both teams have that nature about them. I don’t think it was any more physical than any other game. You’re probably just counting the fights. The fights started because Brownie hit Klesla, and their captain responded to our captain. Other than that, I didn’t think it was any more physical than any other game.’’

(on the game…)
SUTTER: “We had a lot of good opportunities in the first period, with guys who should have them, and they’ve got to put them away. If you want to say anything about a playoff atmosphere, that’s what a playoff atmosphere is about. You’ve got your best players, your goal scorers, scoring goals at the critical times. It’s simple.’’

(on the second and third periods…)
SUTTER: “Halfway through the game, the shots were 16-8, I think. I was disappointed we didn’t get another power play in the second. We had two that were called. One of them has to be called, shooting it into the stands, and then obviously Mike (Richards) got one for yapping at one of the officials. I wasn’t really sure which one. But you’d think there would have been one (penalty) the other way, when we were spending a lot of time in their zone.’’

(on the number of missed shots…)
SUTTER: “If you (have) a wide-open chance and miss the net, that’s your problem. There’s not much you or I or anybody else can do about it. But I think the defensemen’s shots that missed the net, there was a lot of traffic. There was a lot of traffic there tonight.’’

(on trying to rally against Phoenix…)
SUTTER: “I’ve said it 100 times. This league is about having the lead and scoring the first goal. It’s a big difference in the game. They’re no different than anyone else when they have the lead.’’