POSTGAME QUOTES BOSTON BRUINS VS Thursday, October 19, 2017

BOSTON BRUINS HEAD COACH BRUCE CASSIDY On Patrice Bergeron… I think it was self-evident out there that the play on the ice, first of all, built a matchup against whoever we really want. Powerplay obviously, big impact there. I think it’s just morale as much as anything, on the bench and in the room. Those intangibles, leadership, first shift of the game, he’s standing up. They had scored a and kind of settling the troops down, talking about the details of the game. Finishing your routes on the forecheck, reloading all the way to our zone. Stuff that coaches preach a lot, but goes in one ear and out the other sometimes. And when you hear it from the leaders of the group, it means so much more. To have that back in the room and along with David Backes, those are guys that are just vocal players that bring a lot in that aspect. Generally, a quiet group. That doesn’t mean you can’t be effective and win as a quiet group, it just help sometimes to have a little bit of that energy.

On the power play… We addressed it this morning. [WEEI beat writer] Ty [Anderson] had asked me about the timing of the power play, been ok, but that’s what I’m talking about. If you can make a team pay, you’re hoping on a major to get one, maybe two. All of a sudden you get three in there and especially at home, we need a little juice. We come off the road not playing how we wanted to, and it gives us a lead it’s always so much easier. Great response by the guys, both units.

On Kenny Agostino on the power play… Yeah, he was going in on [Ryan] Spooner’s spot. We’ve lost Ryan for a stretch here so we need to – I don’t want to use the word audition, because you hate to say that word when the season is going on, but that’s what it is a little bit here. We have some guys internally we could also look at. But he is a left stick that has done that in the past. We’ve talked about that at a lower level very successfully, we’re going to give him that opportunity at this level. I thought he did a good job with it. We’ll see going forward how it plays out.

On the transition from the AHL to the NHL… I think it’s guys – the discussion I had with him, coming from that, spending a lot of time in that league, is guys here take better angles and they have much better sticks. So if you’re going to make seam plays – I’m talking about the powerplay now – so over there if you’re going to make your seam passes they have to be that much quicker. The lanes will be smaller and they’ll close quicker. So if you’re going to make it, make it in a hurry. And obviously, getting your shot through to the net. The better shooting lane defending as well, and they’re harder on pucks. They are just a bit older. There’s guys in the American League that skate well, shoot well, they just, that part of the game I find there is a difference. The stick position and the angles. They just learn to defend better. Or they’re better defenders up here.

On Adam McQuaid… Adam [McQuaid] has been doing that for years around here. He’s one of the unsung heroes in that locker room. Doesn’t get a lot of credit for what he does, the tough parts of the game, blocking shots, sticking up for your teammates. He actually manages the puck very well. He’s not a flashy player. He’s not a guy that just throws it away either. He makes good decisions with it, and every team needs Adam McQuaid’s, and we’re certainly fortunate to have him.

On the team’s attitude after allowing two goals late in the second… We were ok, we really were. We got away from it a bit. They would get a push. Usually that happens in the third. Obviously we would have liked to get out of that second period with that big lead. We still had a two-goal lead. We addressed it. We have champions in the room. In terms of our D corps, it usually starts there. If they’re solid, defend well, make a good first pass, then you’ll have your opportunity to join. Because I found we were getting a little ahead of ourselves in terms of getting up ice and aggressiveness, which we’ve tried to coach into our game, but at the right time. We don’t want to be reckless, and we got a little bit away from it, and our forwards got trapped low. So we talked about that, having a good high forward. So just some basics so that you don’t get yourself in trouble. You might lose some puck battles, but the worst you get is you don’t get odd man rushes. I thought once we got the kill we got back to it. And then sometimes, when a team is coming at you – basically throwing the kitchen sink – you get some opportunities to transition. They’re ok with trading chances because they want to get back in it. They figure, we get up the ice, get trapped, they get their chance, if we score, well, we’re behind anyway type of mentality. So you get kind of caught up in that game where you don’t want to temper going on offense and putting the game away. Yet, if you miss the net with one your odd man rush chance, there is a pretty good chance they’re getting one the other way, so that’s what you battle.

On David Krejci’s status... He has an upper body; he had to leave. He wasn’t feeling too terrific today, and then he got, I think there was a cross-check there. So, he tried it, couldn’t continue. I think he had some spasms. So, but I don’t think there’s anything long-term there at all.

On handling David Krejci’s absence... We’re getting used to it around here.

On if there is an Adam McQuaid’s status... No, he blocked a shot – lower body – and he’ll get evaluated tonight or tomorrow. I don’t know how serious – he blocks a lot of shots. This one stung him obviously so we’ll see how it turns out.

On forming an identity on each line with Patrice Bergeron back... Yeah, I mean, we’ve been going through that here, just dumb luck each game a guy leaves, so you’re trying to piece together – and you’re incorporating [Sean] Kuraly, [Jake] DeBrusk, [Anders] Bjork, now [Kenny] Agostino – guys that don’t have a big history here. Sean had a bit in the playoffs, obviously, he did a real good job for us. So, you’re trying to fit them into the best spot, so at some point obviously it’s nice to see it all fall into place. We started that way tonight and like I said, hopefully our guys are fine tomorrow, and we continue that way and continue – because it makes a big difference. I told you, we’re not in the excuse making business, but when you lose some of your top players, they’re hard to replace. That’s why they’re top-end players.

On his reaction to David Pastrnak’s goal... Well, you know, Torey [Krug] scored one of those in here last year on the power play against Ottawa, went through the whole team, so it was another one of those. But, we had to look at it in the room after the second period; it was almost the first move he made on the forward where he kind of turned him inside out, but that’s David. He’s high-end talent.

On getting the Marchand-Bergeron-Bjork line back together... Yeah, we were going to try to get that. It’s something we stuck with in training camp and wanted to see how it would play out. You know, a number of different things goes into it, one of them is Bjork gets to learn from two world-class players, and then DeBrusk would learn from David [Krejci] and David has won a championship and Pasta [David Pastrnak] has become a world-class – so that’s, in an ideal world, they’re learning from good players. Didn’t work out that way but today it did, so I mean again, we’re going to try to stick with it. We’ll see how everything shakes out.

On David Pastrnak’s standout play... Well I think he already is when it comes to the talent and the one-on-one game. For David, it’s just growing the rest of his game. Like a lot of these young guys, how much do they value playing away from the puck when the highlight reel goals kind of aren’t happening for them, or the puck’s not finding it for the big one-timer, and that’s the challenge we’ll have with him. He’s very receptive, he’s a great kid, he wants to win, he wants to play the right way, its just a matter of going through that maturation process for him. But, like I said, he’s fun to watch when he gets out there in time and space. He’s good for the game.

BOSTON BRUINS DEFENSEMAN ZDENO CHARA On the team’s response after Vancouver opened the scoring… Yeah, I thought that we handled it really well. Obviously, we worked really hard to get our chances, and we responded really well to that five-minute penalty. Guys really work hard on the penalty kill, and gave us obviously a big lead in the game, and a lot of credit to them. Power play was huge for us. In the second, I thought that they gave us a push. We’ve got to clean up a little bit that area of the game, and we look at it probably tomorrow, and we want to make sure that we have probably more cleaner that part of the game. But in the third we played on our toes, and tried to obviously control the game, and again, big penalty kills. Adam McQuaid made huge blocks in a crucial time of the game, and then we add another goal. So yeah, I thought it was a good game, a lot of positives, a lot of good things. Again, we’re just trying to improve things and make them more cleaner.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD PATRICE BERGERON On how he felt tonight… Yeah I felt good. I mean, you know, it’s one of those where it’s the first one so your legs are a little heavy, especially early on, but, you know, getting those goals definitely helps get yourself going, and yeah after that, you know, I felt better as the game went on.

On how much more he has learned over the years about depending on his hockey sense when coming back from an injury… Yeah, I think you’re trying to do that every time. It’s really important, I think, to go back to what you know best and not try to force things and be in your position, you know, especially when you play with great players like I do. So I’m trying to be in my spot, and I guess let the play come to me, and, you know, especially when it’s been a while like that.

On whether playing with Anders Bjork came back to him… Yeah, it was good. I mean, you know, we played with him all training camp, so we established a bit of chemistry. I thought tonight we were moving our feet very well, and he was, you know, obviously playing great hockey and making some great plays, and he was on the puck too and that makes a big difference, you know, to turn the puck over and helping us and supporting us. So yeah, it was great. He played a great game tonight.

On what it was like sitting out the first five games… It’s hard no matter what it is. You know, when you’re missing games, when you’re missing time, it’s… you miss being out there with the guys and battling with them and going through what we have to go through as a team, so you know, it’s good to be back.

On whether he is over the hump with his injury… That’s the million dollar question, right? I don’t know what to say to that. I guess yeah, I mean I’m feeling good, but there’s… we might manage a little bit for quite a while, but I’m feeling good and tonight was no issue.

On whether he is surprised by how good he did feel… I was feeling good at practice, and you know, that’s one of the reasons why I told them I thought I was ready to go, and yesterday’s practice I felt really good. So… you don’t know what to expect obviously. You’re trying to hope for the best, but, you know, I don’t want to say I was surprised because you want to be at your best every time you step on the ice.

On how much he liked the response to the hit on Frank Vatrano… Yeah, I thought… that’s something we talked about. You know, we want to be a tight group and take a team response to stuff like that, and that’s something we talked about on the bench when they announced the penalty that we had to make him pay and that’s the worst way to make him pay is by scoring goals, and that was a great power play for us.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD BRAD MARCHAND On what it means to have Patrice Bergeron back… I mean it’s pretty evident, you know, the way he played out there tonight. He just, it’s incredible the way he came back and dominated the game after being out for that long, and, you know, again, he’s just such a big part of the group. He’s able to calm things down in the room, on the bench, and he leads by example. You know, he just does everything that a top guy does.

On whether it felt good to capitalize on the hit on Frank Vatrano… Yeah it was. You know, Schallsy [Tim Schaller] did an awesome job stepping up there, and you know, luckily Frankie was okay, but the power play did a great job of kind of taking over that game and giving us a big enough cushion that was tough for them to come back from, so it was good that we were able to kind of find our groove again. You know, we were really good last year, and we’ve struggled a bit early on here, but it was great to have a big night.

On the team having more energy tonight… Yeah there was. I think with Backs [David Backes] and Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] back, that energy they bring in the room, on the bench, you know, they’re so good at making guys stay focused and be prepared and carry that energy from the room onto the ice, so again, it was awesome having both of those guys back as a huge force.

On how important the little things are that Bergeron did well … Yeah, he does it everywhere. The amount of turnovers he creates and opportunities he creates off of those loose pucks and won battles. And then [Anders] Bjork, he did a great job at getting in there and making the good plays, so you know, it just shows, again the little things he does that mean so much for our team.

On Bjork fitting in nicely on their line… Yeah he is. He’s an awesome little player, and you can tell he’s really finding his stride right now. You know, he had an awesome game tonight, and [he’s] so good at reading the ice, open areas and where to go. It takes a little bit of time to build chemistry, but I think we’re coming along.

On how the team needs to channel their energy with Tuukka Rask’s absence… It’s tough. Tuukks is obviously a big part of our team, but Dobby [Anton Khudobin] did an awesome job stepping tonight. Had a big game, had a lot of really big saves at the right time. You know, we just have to play and come prepared at the rink every single day the way we would any other night and, you know, we have to expect everyone to do their job. But, you know, Dobby’s been really good this year and showed that again tonight.

BOSTON BRUINS GOALTENDER ANTON KHUDOBIN On how he felt tonight… I felt great. I feel good. It was kind of an up-and-down, up-and-down game. We took over the game, they took over the game, and a couple turnovers, a couple pucks that we couldn’t handle, stuff like that. So, it was kind of like an up-and-down game.

On if the Canucks’ fast start made him think it was going to be a long game… You know, I didn’t think that way, I was just going to keep focusing on what’s going to happen next. Like, either I have to be focused for non-stop rushes or something like that, but at the same time I wasn’t really into it. I’m thinking, just keep pushing the puck, what they’re going to do, trying to figure it out.

On if he figured he was going to play tonight after seeing Tuukka Rask injured in practice… No, there’s, I mean I guess so, right? That’s what I’m there for, but at the same time, I wasn’t thinking, “Oh maybe he’s going to get hurt and he’s not going to play tomorrow.” I’m not thinking that way, definitely. I was just focusing on my practice. Whatever coach is going to tell me after the practice, then I will keep moving from that point.

On if he should have an assist David Pastrnak’s end-to-end goal… Pasta [David Pastrnak] actually just talked to me about it, I have to talk to them to get the pass, assist, because I stopped it. But I wasn’t even thinking [about it] before he told me that. I was happy he scored. I was happy that we started winning that game, and I wasn’t really thinking about it, to be honest.

On watching David Pastrnak’s goal develop… I think I have that trail to see the route that he took, and it was pretty obviously that he was going to fake them out and just go straight. I just felt that way, and he did it, and whenever he makes that move, I’m like, “Please score,” and he scored it, and my view was the best, probably.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD DAVID BACKES On how he felt in his season debut… There were moments where I felt real good, late in shift just didn’t really have the jump or the legs maybe to make that one last play before the change but tried to manage my shift length and the way the game went with the first period being mostly power play or penalty kill it was a little bit different kind of wading into it but got a few more touches being on the power play like that. Having a lead always helps and we’ll take it. I got my feet wet, Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] got his feet wet. He got a few more touches on the puck when it was going to the net but you love to see guys like that – been battling his injury – and to be back and to produce like that couldn’t be happier for the guy.

On how good Bergeron is compensating for the fact he isn’t at 100 percent… His brain, it’s ridiculous. He and Marchy [Brad Marchand], they might be twins like the Sedins [Daniel & Henrik]. They always know where each other are and that comes from playing with together forever. That they’re able to have that sixth-sense of they know where they are, maybe it’s just a little yell and they know hey he’s been there before and put it right in the wheelhouse and it’s in the back of the net. Bjorky [Anders Bjork] held his own tonight too, you saw what kind of complement he can be to those guys too. Give him a little space and his finish is really good, you see that in practice and now it’s coming out in the games. That’s a great sign as well. Other guys like Timmy Schaller and Riley Nash on the PK, Adam McQuaid blocking shots, eating shots, that’s no fun. Those guys willing to do that, that’s team-first mentality. Sacrificing for the good of the group and that’s how you win games and that’s awesome to see.

On scoring three goals on the power play following Erik Gudbranson’s hit… Yeah, he [Frank Vatrano] sacrifices his nose for the good of the group again and we make good on that with the three goals on one power play. I don’t know if I’ve ever been a part of that, but it was a fun five minutes I think for our team and for the fans here. The way we finished out that first period was really good, they make a push in the second and get a couple and we’re able to regain our composure and fight back and get the next one and once we did that I thought we were able to reestablish ourselves in that third and that’s what we’re looking for. More good minutes and bad minutes to try and put together that plateau game where that’s what we’re aiming for every night. That hasn’t happened yet and we got to put together that kind of effort Saturday when we get back in our division games.

On what he thought on Erik Gudbranson’s hit… There’s a little sympathy being a bigger guy that you have to hit some little guys. Where it’s square in the numbers and he’s looking at the wall, there’s part of you that want to just kind of hold up but sometimes it’s a little too late, you can’t finish a guy through his head. Then there’s blood and there’s a boarding and it’s an automatic five and a game. I don’t know if there’s more to come but I think the guys did a good job – that gave us a little bit of extra motivation – that Frankie took that hit for the guys and we made good on it.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD ANDERS BJORK On having Patrice Bergeron back in the lineup... I mean, it’s huge for our team. He obviously brings a lot of skill and passion and he brings a lot of other things that you don’t really realize – in the locker room and on the bench and stuff. So I mean, you can definitely see why he’s one of the best players in the NHL, not just because of what he does on the ice, but in the locker room as well.

On Brad Marchand’s goal and controlling the play... Yeah, definitely. I mean, these guys are so easy to read off of. They’re going right away and they’re in the right spot all the time, so it makes it easy for me to get open and receive a puck like I did there and make an easy pass to the slot to Marchy [Brad Marchand]. So that’s – again, all of them just playing the right way and also with that much skill, it’s pretty deadly.

On what he’s learned about getting in the right position... Yeah, you know, I think the biggest thing for me is to not think while you’re playing, just use your instincts, but also be aware of where everybody is on the ice. Once you identify where the players are, you’re able to easily get to the right spot. So that’s what I was trying to do and I think that’s how those guys are so successful in reading off players and I’m trying to learn from them.

BOSTON BRUINS DEFENSEMAN KEVAN MILLER On Adam McQuaid… First off, he’s just a great person, but he’s an even better teammate and I mean, you guys kind of know how he is. He’ll block a shot and do anything for the team, and that’s what he did tonight. We’ve seen a lot of that throughout his whole career, and he plays really hard.

On how the team can feed off of what Adam McQuaid brings… I mean, you see guys on the bench celebrating every time he blocks a shot, or fights, or makes a good play. He’s a character guy, and one we definitely need behind the bench.

On if Derek Dorsett tying him up during their fight was related to the new jerseys… He had my right arm. He didn’t have the chest at all. He had my right arm, and I couldn’t get it free, and that’s just a guy that knows what he’s doing a little bit. So, I tried to get free at the end there, I think I got a little bit out. But that’s just the nature of it.

On how much life Patrice Bergeron’s return gives the team… A ton, a ton. He’s a world-class player. He’s one of our captains. He’s obviously a great leader for us, Backs [David Backes] is the same way. A lot of guys getting back in the lineup, which helps us out a lot.

On if there were concerns entering the second intermission… We knew they were going to have a push. We had a lapse in about three or four minutes there. We came back in the room, grabbed our composure. We know how to win in this room, and we wanted to make sure we went out and had a good third, and I think we did that.

On the team’s response after Erik Gudbranson boarded Frank Vatrano… Yeah, I mean that’s huge. Frankie [Frank Vatrano] took a pretty bad hit there, I think you saw. We pride ourselves on having each other’s backs out there, and I think you saw that tonight, and then the power play really went out there and made them pay for it, so it was nice.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD DAVID PASTRNAK On getting three goals on the power play after the Erik Gudbranson penalty… It came in huge. We got a couple of them, last couple of games we didn’t do a very good job on the PP so it was a good bounce-back game for us.

On the lift Patrice Bergeron gave us in our first game back… He’s unbelievable, he could see everywhere on the ice. On the power play, he battles every single shift. Not just that, he and [David] Backes are the voice in the locker room. It was nice to get those guys back.

On his end-to-end goal… I don’t know I just kept skating straight and all of a sudden I had one-on-one. In my head just trying to make a play on one-on-one you know and it got through and ended up in the net. It was a good goal.

On the power play feeling more organized with Bergeron back but still missing Ryan Spooner… Spoons [Ryan Spooner] plays a big part of our power play, so does Bergy [Patrice Bergeron] so those two guys are always key because we’re trying to keep it on the right side and the middle guy is always really important so we really missed Bergy. I thought Kenny [Agostino] did a good job.

On whether the strategy was to simplify things tonight… No I think it was more about getting those second pucks. Last few games we got a shot and there was a rebound or whatever and it bounced to the corner and we weren’t able to get the puck. In this game just was first on every puck in the zone and didn’t let them throw it away so I think that was a big key.

BOSTON BRUINS FORWARD TIM SCHALLER On his reaction to Erik Gudbranson’s hit on Frank Vatrano… I turned around and see Frankie was squished up against the boards pretty good with his back turned so I just assumed he just got hit from behind. I’m going to stand up for my teammates so I jumped in.

On the three goals scored on the five-minute power play… Yeah that was awesome. I kind of ran out of celebrations to do in the penalty box by myself [laughs]. I was having a good time there by myself, it was good.

On him doing whatever it takes to be up here and not in Providence… Yeah I’m not always going to be a flashy guy - I don’t think they want me to be a flashy guy – so I got to the dirty work. I like to think I sparked the team there a little bit. Not necessarily fight every night but get the energy going for the guys.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS HEAD COACH TRAVIS GREEN POSTGAME On if he saw a replay of the hit in the first period and what he thought of it… Just during the game, I saw it on the bench and haven’t watched it since. Yeah, it was obviously a big part of the game, I think it was a hockey play. Goody’s [Erik Gudbranson] going in – big guy vs. smaller guy. He was trying to be aggressive, those things happen.

On Michael Del Zotto taking responsibility for goals against on the penalty kill… Well, I will have to go back and watch it but our penalty kill wasn’t great tonight. Any time you give up four goals on the power play on the road you’re not going to win too many hockey games. The one that comes to mind is obviously the end to end one that [David] Pastrnak scored. But, you know he’s played well for us.

On David Pastrnak being able to build a lot of speed through the neutral zone when he scored… Yeah, for sure. Someone’s gotta slow him down at some point.

On if there was any confusion on the instigator penalties tonight compared to their last game in Ottawa… You know, that call – sometimes it’s – you know, in Ottawa they call it, tonight they don’t. The ref’s gotta make that call. I don’t really have a comment on it.

On if he can take anything out of the last two periods… Yeah, five-on-five after two periods I liked our game. I thought we were really coming at the end of the second and had some life. You know, give our guys credit you know, we got a goal at the beginning of the third and it’s a different game.

On if he thought about calling a time out after the [Erik] Gubranson hit… I thought about it. We still had a minute and 40 seconds left on the kill and we had some time in between the goal. I talked to our group and talked about getting a [penalty] kill. It wasn’t like – there are only four guys or five guys that are going on the ice for a kill anyways so I didn’t feel like I needed a timeout as far as regrouping our team. We just needed a kill.

On the same four guys being on the ice for all four penalty kill goals… Yup, and those are the four guys that have been killing for us. [Derek] Dorsett was in the box so…

On if he’s talking about the four penalty kill players for the season… Yup, we’ve had five or six guys – they’ve been really good on the season.

On the goaltending change… Ah, yeah four goals – I talked to Nils [Anders Nilsson], it wasn’t his fault. I just made a switch.

On a lineup change being possible for the next game… Ah, I don’t know. I don’t know yet.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS DEFENSEMAN ERIK GUDBRANSON On his hit being the turning point of the game… Yeah, yeah, it was tough. You never want to be responsible for something like that and it is what it is I guess.

On if he has seen the replay of the hit… Yeah, I saw it. I was trying to make shoulder on shoulder contact with him. I definitely didn’t try and run at him. My intention of hitting someone from behind is never there. So I mean, it was unfortunate. I think he moved a little bit, but nonetheless, it is what it is.

On how he felt when he was out of the game hearing the goal horns… Yeah, that was tough to swallow. Especially being in here and hearing that goal horn go off a couple times – it was a tough little bit. So, um, it’s unfortunate that we weren’t able to carry the momentum that we had in the second all the way through.

On if he was surprised that he was challenged after the hit… Yeah, no, obviously not. I think I had two or three guys chasing towards me. So, it is what it is, it’s part of the game and I’ll always defend myself if something like that arises.

On if he would describe the hit as bad luck… Um, yeah, I mean as I said I was going to make contact on his left shoulder with my right and I don’t know whether he turned at the last minute or not but I was definitely not trying to do that. So maybe that is what it is, I don’t know.

On if he is expecting to hear from the league for the hit… I have no idea. I have no idea. I hope not.

On if he had enough time to alter his course… No, no. If I did I would have done it for sure. So I didn’t see it.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS FORWARD HENRIK SEDIN On the hit being the turning point of the game… I mean, it just happened. And it’s tough to explain. It wasn’t anything that they did differently that we haven’t seen before, it was just off the rush a couple times. So that’s what happens.

On if all the goals reminded him of the 2011 comeback win… Uhm, I don’t want to talk about that.

On if he feels like the team gave itself a chance to build momentum after a road win in Ottawa… Oh, it’s tough. But again, I think it’s a tough call. Goody [Erik Gudbranson] plays hard, he’s a big guy. He comes in and the guy turns maybe a little bit – like I said I haven’t seen it so I’m not going to be 100 percent correct – but he didn’t want to hit him hard. Things happen and I don’t think the ref made a bad call but it’s – if you don’t kill off [the penalty] it’s a tough two minutes.

On if it was a bad non-call without an instigator… Yeah, but I mean I haven’t seen that game so it’s one of those things where you want to ask them ‘what’s the difference’. But the guy was around the pile when it happened so he didn’t skate across the ice and that was their explanation.

VANCOUVER CANUCKS HEAD COACH TRAVIS GREEN PREGAME QUOTES On the goalie competition… For sure, going into the season, we knew we had two young goalies that were vying to be – to get more ice time. Trying to be number one. They probably both are very similar at the stage in the career where they’re at. We’ve talked about internal competition. And you want that from your goalies. You want them to push each other. It’s a little different if you’ve got a guy that’s a bona fide one, and the two knows where he’s at. But in this situation, they’re both smart guys, they know where we’re at, and they both want to play.

On if he thinks they play the Bruins at a good time due to their injuries… No. I don’t. I don’t think we are getting anyone at a good time. In this league if you start thinking that, you’re going to be in trouble. I’m sure they’re going to come hard tonight. They’re back home. They are going to look to get a win.

On Alexander Burmistrov… Looks a little better. I don’t know if it’s from sitting out, but he’s looked good both games that he’s played for sure.

On getting his career to take off… Sometimes it takes guys time. I’ve talked to him. I’ve talked to Bermie [Alexander Burmistrov] a couple times as far as find a way to stay in the league, be effective. I think he has in the past, as a young player does a lot, you worry about points. I said the points will be – I’ve told him, we’ve talked – the points will be a by-product of playing good hockey and being able to play in any role. Kill penalties, I’ve had him out when we were at home. He played against top lines some shifts, and when you worry about those things and just playing well, good things come if you don’t worry about… the end product of getting points.

On the reason for the day off… We had a good hard skate Monday in Ottawa. I thought we competed very hard against a good team in Ottawa, three in four, it’s a good time to give a day off today.

On keeping the lineup after a win… I lean towards keeping the same lineup if we play well, win or lose. If our team plays well and I like the way the game went, then we’ll keep the lineup the same.

On the speculation of calling a player up… I don’t know what you mean about speculation. I have no idea about stories or rumors. We called [Michael] Chaput up because we thought [Brandon] Sutter might not play, it’s as simple as that. We’re going with the same lineup right now, so there is no reason to call anyone else up today.

On if he remembers his fight in Boston in 2003… Yeah, I do. I’m sure you’ve all seen it. Felt like I had ten fists coming at me, and a couple blockers. I think Clutes [Dan Cloutier] had a couple blockers on.

#10/19/17#