On whether there’s any relief that the team has officially qualified for the playoffs:
“No. We’re shooting for home ice right now. That’s been the goal. That’s what Darryl’s been talking about all year. I mean, I’ve only been back for a few days, but that’s definitely the message around here is that we’re shooting for home ice.”
On whether a desperate Dallas team with a strong work ethic presents a particular challenge:
“I think it’s going to be a great game. They’ve been playing well…Hard working team, and they’re playing a good system, so it’s going to be tough. It’s going to be a game probably just like Columbus came out and gave us. Real gritty, hard working game.”
On Los Angeles having an impact on other teams’ postseason chances:
“I mean, right now they’ve got an impact on ours, too. Just because you clinch – it means that you’re in it, but you still have got to sort everything out. There’s all these matches that you want to try to benefit yourself and get home ice, and that’s what’s going to do it for us. That’s our goal. Just keep eating up those points and keep climbing.”
On when the focus shifts from making sure the body is OK to fine tuning particular aspects of his game after missing a significant period of time:
“I think right away. I think you’ve got to start picking up points in your game. You can’t just be average right now and worry about yourself and how you’re feeling. You’ve got to be contributing to the team and being a positive out there, or else you’re not worth doing it.”
His first impressions of skating with Jake Muzzin:
“He’s awesome. He’s a really good player. He’s really good with the puck. Really good poise. You can see it obviously on TV, but then kind of playing with him, you see even more. He does a good job of skating and moving it well, and he’s a big body back there. He does [a lot] defensively, too, so he’s a real strong part.”
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