December 3 morning skate quotes: Martinez, Jones

Alec Martinez, on the importance of establishing a lead against St. Louis:
It was crucial. Obviously they have a really good hockey club in St. Louis and we’ve had quite a few battles with them over the past few years in the playoffs and in season. Especially at home, you want to make sure you’re really getting those points at home when you have the opportunity. We had a good start and I think that was a big part of the reason why we won the game.

Martinez, on the compete level against St. Louis:
Obviously you are happy to get the win, but I think we can tighten things up a little bit. I think that it’s no secret we got a little sloppy there and fortunately we were still able to come out on top, but we have to tighten things up and take a good focus on our game and regroup here and be ready for Anaheim.

Martinez, on what has led to the one-sided results in the St. Louis rivalry:
To be quite honest with you, I don’t know. It’s always been a real physical battle with them. It’s no secret that we’re both similar teams in terms of, they forecheck really had and they’re really physical and that’s we pride ourselves on. I don’t really know what it is, but I am glad that it’s this way and not the other. They’re a good hockey club. I think that we rise to the occasion and met the challenge of the St. Louis Blues and we just have to keep it going.

Martinez, on Anaheim:
They obviously have a lot of depth. They’ve got a high powered offense. There’s a reason why they’re sitting at the top of the league right now. They play physical, they have a lot of big guys up front too. We have to focus on making quick decisions down low as a D-man getting it in the forwards hands and letting them go to work. They have a good hockey club in Anaheim and we have to meet the challenge.

Martinez, on Dustin Penner:
He’s a good hockey player. He’s a big guy. He can protect the puck. He’s got good hands for how big he is and a good shot. He’s playing on that top line with Getzlaf and Perry and all of three of them are really good hockey players, probably one of the best lines in the league. Again, we have to be ready for them and meet the challenge.

Martinez, on if it will be strange playing a regular season game against Penner:
Not really. Once you get out there, he’s a Duck and that kind of thing doesn’t matter. I have played against guys that I’ve played with before, so it’s no different. Like what Darryl says, there are no friends out there.

Martin Jones, on the possibility of making his first NHL start:
It’d be exciting. I feel like I’ve had a couple good weeks of practice here and whenever I’m called upon I’m going to be ready to go. It’s exciting for sure.

Jones, on working with Ben Scrivens:
It’s been great. Scrivs is a great guy and he’s a good teammate, helping me out with little things here and there. Just watching those guys-the way the practice, the detail in their game-you pick up a lot for sure.

Jones, on what he has seen from Anaheim:
Obviously they’re right at the top of the standings. They have a really good team. A lot of big, strong forwards with skill, so we have to make sure we do a good job in our own end, down low containing those guys and turning that into offense.

Jones, on what he has been working on with Bill Ranford:
Nothing specific, I don’t think, just little things – getting up to speed with the game and the pace and the shots. I felt good with it the last couple weeks so we’ll see what happens.