June 1 media availability: Drew Doughty

On the importance of a fast start in opening the Western Conference Finals:
“It’s really important. I think everyone’s just really excited right now, anxious to get out there. I’m sure it was tough to sleep for some guys. Just really excited going into that rink. It just starts right away with the anthem, going crazy. It just pumps us all right up. So I don’t think it’ll be hard for us to come out with a fast start, and we’re going to be determined to do it.”

On the awareness of being close to the Stanley Cup Final, and whether he reflects on last year:
“To be honest, we’re not trying to think too much about the next round. Right now we have Chicago, and that’s all that matters. But at the same time we can look back on last year and see the things we did and use the experience we got. That’s how we’re taking it right now. We know how important this series is, and how important a quick start is. We’ve been down in our first series and let a team come back in our second. So we have a lot of work to do because I think if we give this team a chance, we’re not going to be able to come back.”

On Detroit’s ability to slow Chicago down, and Los Angeles’ attempts to do the same:
“Yeah, if we give them time and space, they have a lot of speed this team. They have a lot of skill, and they’re going to make us look foolish. That’s definitely one of our top things, especially being hard on their top guys. Their top guys for the most part aren’t guys who are going to go down low in the corners and battle and compete, minus Toews. They want that space. They want to be able to make plays, and we can’t allow them to do that. We’ve got to play them physical and not give them any space.”

On whether he sees this series as more similar to the St. Louis or San Jose series:
“Probably more like San Jose, I’d say. St. Louis was a tough, physical series – not that tthis team, I don’t think won’t play physical, but they definitely have more of that skill that San Jose had. They have a good power play, even though it really hasn’t showed, I guess, this playoffs. They still have a really good power play. So yeah, it’ll be more similar to that.”

On Chicago’s stiff penalty kill:
“We studied it. We know what they’re going to do. They block a lot of shots. But at the same time, we can use those shot blockers as screens, and if we get it by that shot blocker, then all you’ve got to do is get it by the goalie. Same thing, too – we’ve got to get pucks on net and rebounds. This guy gives out a few rebounds, so we’ve got to get those second chances and make sure we bury ‘em.”

On whether it’d be nice to have Jarret Stoll back in the lineup:
“He brings a lot of things. He’s a great faceoff guy, great energy guy. He finishes a lot of checks, and he’s a good leader, too, in the room. He’s always vocal, making sure the guys are ready to go, ready to be pumped up. He’s [missed] on our team, so we’re happy to have him back.”

On ways to end the team’s road struggles:
“I think in order to win this series, we’ve got to steal one of these two games, for sure. It starts with tonight. It’s going to be tough. Road games are always tough, especially in a rink like here in Chicago. The crowd’s great. It’s a tough rink to play in. It’s not one of my favorites, that’s for sure. So it’s going to be tough, but we’ve got to do it. [Reporter: Why do you say that?] I just don’t like it. Never had a good vibe, myself. Not with the team or anything – just myself. Haven’t had a good vibe in it, but I’m pretty determined to change it.”

On whether he liked the way the team’s road performance against San Jose despite the outcomes:
“Some of the games. Not all of them, maybe. One of the three, so no.”

On his end-to-end rush in Chicago that ended with Dwight King’s goal on March 25:
“Yeah, that was good. I didn’t get the goal, even. It was a nice assist. That was something that very rarely happens in the NHL. It’s not likely you’re going to be able to get by a few guys, so I don’t think that’ll be happening again. [Reporter: Not in the playoffs.] No. Too risky.”

On whether he has seen any Spocks walking around in the hotel lobby:
“What’s the Spock? [Reporter: Star Trek people.] Oh, yeah. Someone asked me about that yesterday. But I don’t know anything about Star Trek.”

On how he’d compare the Trekkies to the FanimeCon convention in San Jose:
“The hotel in San Jose, that was weird. It was cool, though, too. There were some really cool costumes. But that was something I’ve never seen before. I didn’t realize people were that excited over things about that.”