Postgame Quotes vs.

Predators Quotes

Head Coach Peter Laviolette On the intensity between Nashville and Anaheim… There’s an intensity. There’s a physicality that goes with it. They’re a competitive team and they play hard even with some big pieces out. They played a hard-fought game tonight, probably harder than we were thinking it might be in the beginning so you have to give them credit. I think our guys, after the first period, got a little more competitive, even toward the end of the first a little bit. There’s not a lot of room out there as there typically isn’t. You have to fight for space and fight in the battles and that’s just the way these games go.

On having a versatile player like Jarnkrok… It’s important. Calle has probably played the power play his entire life. He has played it here for us. He’s not on one of the units right now if everyone is healthy but he’s a skilled player that thinks the game. I don’t even think he needs a lot of meetings. He’s not in on the meetings and he doesn’t get any reps in practice on the power play. He’s just smart. He’s talented and can jump in to that situation. He has been there before in the past and he’s done a good job. To jump in like that and not miss a beat is pretty good.

Forward Filip Forsberg On the outcome of the game… It was huge. We stuck with it. Pekka Rinne played unbelievable and kept us in the game. They got a goal and we just kept firing back. The third period was good. Obviously in we could have won it there.

On the amount of physical play… I think we were prepared for that. We know what kind of team they are. I think we can play pretty physical ourselves too – first two periods for them and the third period for us.

On how the team bounced back from the loss last game… We were not happy with the Vancouver game and not really happy with this game. With Pekka Rinne always in the game, we know we can always win and that’s what we did tonight.

On Forward Calle Jarnkrok… He’s probably our smartest player. He can play anywhere.

Goalie Pekka Rinne On the game’s intensity and the rivalry… It gets pretty heated up. It’s borderline between if it is fair hockey or not. It’s going to get nasty at times, but those are fun games and you get ready for those. I feel like since a few years back, we have had some history with Anaheim over the years and over the playoff series. It’s gotten to a point where I feel like they don’t really like us and we don’t really like them so it’s a good setup for a good match. I felt like it took some time for us to get going, but after the first period, I thought that we were the team that took over the game.

On how to approach the third period… This year, in the third period, we have given up a lot of goals. But we have still been able to win games in overtime and in shootouts. We’ve talked about it a lot and we’ve been talking about it throughout these last few home games, but we really need to pay attention to the third period and keep going and attacking the game, and keep forechecking because I feel like that’s our strength when we have the patience to put the puck deep and use our speed.

On the marriage proposal that Viktor Arvidsson helped with… I didn’t see it, I had no clue. That’s pretty cool. He’s quite a lovebird.

On the motivation of the rivalry… I think it keeps you on your toes. My position never really changes – my job is to try and stop the puck and make saves. When I look around, it is really physical out there and you try to help by talking and communicating. You notice that is amped up. Our guys were ready for it because the last thing you want to see is injuries.

Forward Calle Jarnkrok On if he feels comfortable on the power play… I played some last year and I’m pretty used to it. It’s not that hard to get into.

On his goal in the third period… It shows good character. It was a tough game last game and came back today and we got better in the third and got the win.

On staying aggressive in the third period… We’ve been talking about playing the game for the full 60 minutes. We cannot just play hard in the first – we have to get after it for the whole 60 minutes.

Ducks Quotes

Head Coach Randy Carlyle On how the team responded to the physicality and emotion of the game tonight… I thought we battled pretty hard. I thought the game was played pretty much on an even balance. It was a game that was physically challenging for both hockey clubs. We have to take the point and move on. We don’t like that we give up a one-goal lead in the third. We could be a little bit more disciplined in that. But I think the player that drew the penalty has a history of diving and that’s the way I saw it.

On the Ducks’ forecheck counteracting the defense… When you’re playing on the road you have to establish your style of game, and I thought we did a lot of good things in the hockey game. They’re a good team. They’re rolling along and they find ways to be intimidating in this building. I don’t think we were intimidated one bit. I think the issue for us is we just have to continue to play our game and stay disciplined with the things that are going on out there, and we’ll find our way.

Forward On tonight’s game… It’s tough. You can’t get too high, you can’t get too low on these sorts of things. [Miller] played a hell of a game. We got some contributions from everybody. I thought – for the most part – we played pretty solid defensively. That was probably the best period of our season – that first period – we were on our toes and doing the right thing. Like I said the other day, if we continue to keep doing that, it’s going to come. We have to work hard. We know what we have.

On staying competitive when the payoff isn’t there yet… We’re holding on. We know what’s going on. We have some great players that [have been in] bigger minutes in this locker room, and we are trying to get points when we can. It’s a tough league. It’s hard. Anybody can win on any single night. If we play that way, we’re going to be okay.