February 26 postgame quotes: Vegas

Gerard Gallant, on playing well despite not getting the outcome:
Yeah, I thought it was a great game. I thought our team competed hard and played real well tonight and you know, we had a two-nothing lead and unfortunately they got a power play goal that was a bit unlucky, obviously. Hit Eakin in the face after a good save by our goalie. But no, we played good and I’m happy with our performance.

Gallant, on whether fatigue was a factor late in the game:
No not at all. No, like I said, the guys like to play and it’s not like we’re playing back-to-back nights so no, not at all.

Gallant, on how regulation ended:
Well it happens to everybody, and like I said, I think we played a great game. If we played this game over again the same way, I’d be real happy again. I mean we lost the game, they got a big-time break on their first goal. It went off our guys’ face and into the net. They made a great play to tie it up 2-2 at the end with ten seconds left. So I’m not disappointed at all. I loved the way we played tonight. It was a big point for us tonight and they got two.

Gallant, on any positive takeaways:
We did everything well. We played a great game. Like I told you, I was happy with the way we battled all night long. Played a great game.

Reilly Smith, on losing the lead towards the end of the third period:
They kept on creating chances. They created a lot of scrums in front of the net. In the third period they put a lot of pucks to the net and they created some opportunities. Obviously a few bounces helped them out, but you know, that was a tough way to finish that one. I think we played a good team game and Quick made a lot of big saves and kept them in it a couple of times.

Smith, on whether it gets heated when playing a divisional rival in a back-to-back:
Yeah but it’s good to know that we’re on the same page together. We’re both going through this back-to-back so no one really has the upper side on this one. They’re a good team. They’ll stick to their systems and make a tough six or seven periods, whatever it may be. We just have to stick to our game plan and I think if we play the way we did tonight, tomorrow night we should be fine.

Jonathan Marchessault, on what went well:
I think it was just an intense game. Obviously it was a couple mistakes on both ends, but it was real intense and supporting each other. I mean, we were down two guys there. It’s definitley hard on the body, but it’s part of the game and I think it was a good team effort. The only thing that’s not positive is that Fleury was outstanding tonight and he didn’t get the win there. So I think that’s the only thing that’s not positive.

Marchessault, on if it was frustrating losing the lead in the third, especially given how the Kings first goal was scored:
Definitely funny—I mean first goal goes off of Eakes’ helmet. Like trying to do the right play at the right time and it happens. The second goal was, I think was a good play, a good shot by a good player. I mean it happens. And just that penalty at the end, I mean it’s just—maybe it was one, I don’t know I didn’t watch the play, but it’s just weird that it’s the ref at the end of the (inaudible) that sees that. I mean, their call, hard job for them definitely. Everybody’s trying to do their best out there.

Marchessault, on whether a rivalry is starting to develop:
Yeah, I think it’s starting to be fun playing against them. I mean they have high-quality players and definitely an intense game. Yeah, I think I want more to win against them.

Marc-Andre Fleury, on the team’s performance:
We didn’t play bad, right? We stuck with it, battled hard until the end. Had a good push, like I said they had a little bit of luck and get back in the game that way. But we didn’t play bad, right, it’s just how it ended up.

Fleury, on if the game was fun:
It was good. Right from the start it was a high-pace game. Even the referee told me, he was like, “It’s a good game.” High-tempo and intense, physical and quick. So it was fun. Quick made some great saves and just tried to keep up with them a bit.