January 28 morning skate quotes: Chicago

Joel Quenneville, on whether he is excited for the team to start playing games again:
I thought we had real good enthusiasm out there today, good pace. I think we want to play. I think practicing is OK, but games are what it’s all about.

Quenneville, on the rivalry with Los Angeles:
Very intense games, very exciting, unpredictable – games seem to be on the line from start to finish. Fast paced, maybe a little too much goal scoring for coaches but I think expect a fast game and expect not a lot of time and expect a hard game.

Quenneville, on whether possessing the puck is of greater significance when facing Los Angeles:
I think you want to make sure you manage it well. You want to make sure that you keep it as long as you can, but you have to be smart. You don’t always want to force things. Getting it behind them and making them play in their own end is something you try to do. But if we do have a chance to keep [the puck], let’s make sure we put it in good areas late in shifts.

Quenneville, on whether he expects a playoff atmosphere in the game:
Yeah, I think that everybody gets excited when we play one another. The buildings have been very alive and this has been a fun place. We have a few Blackhawk supporters in the crowd, generally. It should be a fun game.

Bryan Bickell, on facing Jonathan Quick:
He’s a guy that never gives up. If you think you have an empty net, he’s going to find a way to stop it. But they’ve been struggling of late, but I’m sure they regrouped over the break. So they’re fired up and we’re excited, very excited for a good game.

Bickell, on whether he is excited to start playing games again:
It seems like we’ve been here for three days, four days and we haven’t played a game yet. I’m looking forward to it. The guys are excited. I think tonight is going to be a high-paced game where two teams are excited to be back. It’s going to feel more like a playoff atmosphere, and again, we’re looking forward to it.

Bickell, on whether he prefers a higher-paced game coming out of the break:
Yeah, I think so, to get us back into it right away. These next six games are a big test for us. Start us off the right way and hopefully it will carry us on to the rest of the trip.

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