May 5 practice quotes: Robyn Regehr

Though Darryl Sutter didn’t express concern over the team’s third period play during media availability earlier today, Robyn Regehr spoke on the need to improve over the final 20 minutes as the Kings have been outscored 2-0 and outshot 20-8 in the third periods of Games 2 and 3.

“Yeah, I think we want to improve in third periods, most definitely,” Regehr said. “We gave up the late goal in St. Louis in Game 2, and also just sat back too much here last night in Game 3. So for us, we want to come out and play an assertive, aggressive game. We want to be the one skating, getting pucks in, getting our forecheck going, things like that, because you want to put teams under constant pressure, and that’s usually where you either tire them out or get your best chances. So we didn’t do a very good job of that the last couple games, and most definitely we want to improve on that.”

Hit the jump for more Regehr quotes.

On the lack of margin for error:
“It’s typical playoff hockey. Every inch of ice, it seems like, is a battle out there. Both teams are struggling a little bit offensively, but that being said too, there’s reasons for it. The goaltenders are playing well and making big saves, things like that.”

On the puck battles referred to by Sutter in Saturday night’s post-game quotes as “little battles only the players appreciate or understand”:
“Well, there’s all kinds of little things that happen within the game. Some people call it the game within the game. You call it whatever you want, but it’s a series. It’s a tough series. It’s a hard-fought, low-scoring tight series. There’s all kinds of stuff that’s happening out there. You, as an individual, want to win as many of those little battles and as a team, you do too. Hopefully that puts yourself in the best chance to win.”

On how the seven defensemen worked in Los Angeles’ favor:
“It was, I think, a nice change. It worked out really well. I think Marty stepped in and played really well in not having played in I think about a month here. He was a part of the game-winning goal, the only goal. So that was huge for him. For us as defensemen, we’ve really got to make sure we’re paying attention on the bench with seven defensemen, because you’re not always going out there with the same partners, being an odd number. He’s rotating through different players, so you’ve got to make sure that you’re aware of who’s up next and who you’re called for.”

On the constant battling in this series and ways to avoid St. Louis’ forecheck:
“Well, we’ve made some adjustments on it. We saw the forecheck and what they were trying to do in the first two games in St. Louis, and now we’ve made some adjustments. I’m not going to go through those, because I don’t want to get that out in the open, but I think we’re doing a better job in doing that. But the key, first of all, is to get back and really be quick as one unit. When you’re all back and you’re supporting each other in very small little areas, tight spaces, that’s what you have to do against a very aggressive, fast forecheck – and a physical one, too. You can’t hope to make the long plays and stretch out a zone or zone and a half or two zones and wait for the perfect play. You can’t do that. You have to get back. You have to put the work in. You have to help one another out. You have to talk, and away you go from there.”

On whether there’s additional pressure playing for the defending champs:
“No, there’s always pressure in all kinds of situations you go into, whether you’re a rookie trying to make a team, you’re trying to make a name for yourself in the NHL, you’re trying to stay in the NHL, you’re in the playoffs for the first time or the 10th time. There’s always pressure. I don’t look at it that way at all. With the other side of that, the way I look at it is there’s a great opportunity in being part of a team like this – one that has experience in having won last year, and also one that plays a very disciplined style game.”