THE MODERATOR: Questions for J.T., Steven, Braydon, Ondrej and Valtteri.
Q. Steven, you guys obviously are better at home than on the road.
During the playoffs, you’ve had success on the road. Can you explain?
STEVEN STAMKOS: I think that was the main focus for us starting this series, starting with the same mentality we have at home, like you just mentioned.
For whatever reason, whether it’s distractions, trying to play a solid road game, I know it gets talked about a lot throughout the season.
For whatever reason, we’ve been able to do that. I think we’ve done that the last couple games at home, as well.
I think you’re satisfied with a tight game on the road than you are
at home. Especially in the playoffs, we found a way to keep it tight.
Whether it was 0-0, 1-1 in the third, we’ve found the confidence in our group to find a way to get it done. It’s worked out so far.
Q. J.T., it seemed like the coach challenged you guys to get more
production out of different lines. Seemed like your line was flying for most of the night last night.
J.T. BROWN: At all times we want to chip in. We don’t want to have too much on the top six forwards.
First and foremost, we need to keep the puck out of our net. I think that was still our first focus.
Q. Valtteri, Steven last night talked about the incredible pace of
the game. It was a lot of fun for fans to watch. A lot of us look at the Finals you played with Detroit against Pittsburgh. Can you draw a parallel with the potential of this series to what you experienced back then?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: I mean, yeah, I think it was really, really
quick. A lot of back and forth. I felt that was kind of the same way that series was back in ‘08 and ’09 as well.
I think the first game wasn’t as physical as the second game was.
Obviously we haven’t played them that much in the regular season. First couple games, you kind of get used to a team as well.
So I think it’s going to be the same way going forward.
Q. Steven, in terms of the series record, you went into Game 2
saying it wasn’t a must-win. In terms of confidence and momentum going into that game, was it a must-win for this team?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Again, I said it a bunch of times. It’s never a
must-win until your backs are completely against the wall.
It’s the same all playoffs. We’ve come into every game wanting to
win. We knew if we got in an 0-2 hole, it was going to be tough,
especially with a team with this much experience.
Like I said after Game 1, there was a lot of positives out of that game. It was a tough loss, tough to swallow, especially being up a goal in the third.
We found ourselves in that same position. We didn’t waiver this
time. We stuck with it. I know they tied it, but there’s no panic with
this group. That was a big win for us to get our feet wet a little bit in this series, obviously make it a series heading into a tough rink to play in.
We’ve had confidence in our ability to bounce back all along.
Q. Valtteri, how has this experience been for you in the Final? How is it different? Are you enjoying it in a different way?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: Yeah, I think you always enjoy when you get to
the Final. Luckily for me first three years, first year in Conference
Final, then two times in Final in a row. You’re thinking, Okay, this is going to be fun, you get to play all the time.
Obviously that’s not the case.
It’s great to be back. I feel we have a good team, we’ve been
playing well. So it’s been a lot of fun.
Q. Valtteri, as the only Lightning player with a Stanley Cup
victory, why do you think your team has had success despite that relative inexperience?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: I think we’ve had two really good regular seasons
now. Last year we obviously made it to playoffs, but it didn’t go as we
wanted it to. I feel like our team’s been playing more mature than we
necessarily have.
To be honest, it’s tough to say. I feel like we have a young group, but we’ve been playing better than you would maybe think. Hopefully we can keep going a couple few more games.
Q. Steven, you guys are undefeated when you’re angry. What is it
about this team? Is there a way to be able to produce those emotions on a consistent basis even though you don’t play a bad game?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Well, I think these last couple games, you’re
finally seeing – you can go back to Game 7 against the Rangers. That’s three pretty consistent efforts in a row. That was something that we were struggling with coming off a big win, having a letdown, having that letdown, coming out with a great effort. For whatever reason, that was the trend we were on. We responded every time we’ve been in that situation.
But I said it after Game 1. It was a different kind of loss in Game
1 of this Finals than it had been previous series where we lost 5-2, 6-2, 7-3. This is a game we felt we had and we let it slip through our fingers.
We played well.
This is a new response from our team to come out and play as well as we did in Game 1, just finish the job this time. We did that. Hopefully that can be proof to our team that we can continue to play consistently and find ways to win.
I think that’s three in a row where we’ve played in the right way, and for the most part we’ve seen the results.
Q. Steven, how do you feel about the way you’ve played so far in
this series? How would you describe the amount of attention they’re paying to you compared to what you received before?
STEVEN STAMKOS: We haven’t found a way, myself personally, to get on the board yet. At this time of the year, it’s about the wins. We’ve said
that all along. This has been a group that’s relied on our depth the
entire season. We’ve seen it in the playoffs.
Our line in general has had some really good looks. Just haven’t
gone in. We found a way to get one in the first game. But when certain
guys aren’t producing, it doesn’t mean they’re not playing well. The pucks
just aren’t going in. Other guys step up. That’s why we’ve been so
successful.
Obviously it’s a challenge. Usually you’re against one of the top four on the other side. Those guys play a ton. They’re very good players.
It’s a challenge every time. But we’ve done a good job of trying to take away their time and space as well with their top guys.
I think both teams have some very skilled players that the other team is paying close attention to. That’s when you get into secondary scoring.
You saw it in Game 1 for them. You saw it in Game 2 for us. That might be a trend going forward.
Q. Steven, we’re not 100% sure who your starting goalie is tomorrow
night. A, do you know? B, if it is Vasilevskiy, how do you stay confident with a guy who is a rookie going in for his first start in a Stanley Cup Final?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Yeah, we’re not sure. If we were, probably wouldn’t tell you anyways (laughter).
About it is Vasi, we have full confidence in him. I know a lot of us talked about it last night after the game.
I think it’s helped him that he’s been thrown in the fire a little bit in the playoffs. We’ve been in some tough games where we’ve left Bish out to dry, giving him a rest, he’s come in. He’s been in different
situations. He had a couple goals scored on him early, didn’t rattle him.
Like last game, came in, played well, made some saves.
He’s a young kid. Let’s not forget, he played in the KHL for a
couple years. That’s pro experience for him. He showed that since he came
over here. Ever since he came over here, he works extremely hard in
practice. He’s ready.
He’s a guy that’s probably the most prepared out of everybody. He’s at the rink six to eight hours a day preparing. He’s waiting for his chance. Whether that’s tomorrow or not, he’ll be ready.
Q. Steven, you said you were following it on the PA saying who was
in, who was out. Was there anything said on the bench to get your focus back or did it happen naturally?
STEVEN STAMKOS: You know what, not much. When he went in, we wanted to make sure we finished the game for him, and obviously for Bish. But we wanted to just play solid in front of Vasi. Took a penalty there. He made some big saves. That one time on Richards was a very big chance.
Like I said, no matter what the situation, he seemed to have
confidence. I think there’s a correlation with how hard he works in
practice and prepares himself. When he gets thrown in these situations, he’s ready.
Not much needed to be said from our standpoint on the bench. We wanted to go out and finish the game hard. They flip-flop a couple times in net, we’re not sure what’s going on. We found a way. He made some key saves for us.
Q. Steven, tomorrow the top prospects will be here for the game.
What are your memories from your day, what you say to those guys?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Yeah, that was a great experience for me. I
actually got to watch Fil play.
I think it was the first Cup Final you were in.
We had a chance to go down to Detroit and catch the game against Pittsburgh, meet a couple guys. Got to go in the room.
That was pretty exciting. That was for me really your first taste of seeing these guys up close, watching the game, getting to meet some guys.
We’ve already had a couple discussions, looking forward to meeting
those guys. I know Connor a little bit from training in the summer,
skating with him. But this is what those guys dream of, as well. I
remember being in Detroit watching there, hoping I could be on this stage someday. Here we are, so it’s pretty special.
Q. J.T., Jonathan Toews said today he was surprised that the matchup has been your line so far against his, although he’s been impressed by the work you guys have done. How much have you enjoyed that matchup, which has been successful so far for you guys?
J.T. BROWN: Yeah, I mean, even for us, not necessarily knowing who
we’re going to go against. Whoever it is, it’s our job to shut them down.
For the most part we’ve been doing it all right. The best way to shut them down is to try to play offense. They’re a skilled group over there. If they’re playing in our D zone, they’re going to get their chances. The best chance to stop them is to be in the offensive zone for them.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks, guys.
Questions, please.
Q. Braydon, you’ve been in a lot of playoff series. Does home ice
advantage mean as much during the playoffs as it does during the regular season?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think when it really comes into factor is when you get into that Game 7, you can play at home, that seems to be comfortable.
I think we went into New York and won that one in Game 7, too.
It’s tough to say. Sometimes it is, sometimes it’s not. Just
depends on your opposition and how you’re playing at home.
Q. Braydon, what is the challenge like when Jonathan Toews and
Patrick Kane have been together? When they’re split apart, what is it like to try to stop them when they’re separate?
BRAYDON COBURN: They’re two very talented players. You got to make sure you’re playing them tight, not giving them a lot of room to make plays and be creative.
They’re tough players to play against. You have to have the mindset
you’re playing against good players. Doesn’t change whether they’re
together or whether they’re apart. The Chicago team’s got a lot of deep talent in the forward line.
You know, there’s challenges whoever you’re facing out there.
Q. Braydon, in a situation like you faced yesterday with an
inexperienced goalie coming in virtually cold in a tight game, do you have time to be conscious about that or everything just keeps going the way it was?
BRAYDON COBURN: Well, I think you want to give him as much support
as you can. You want to be sure you’re playing smart. Obviously that time of the game, you’re trying to play as smart as you can anyway.
You know, personal experience and knowing Vasi, just the way he prepares, kind of the way he handles himself, I was pretty confident he was going to be ready when he was called upon when he went in.
Q. Ondrej, Stamkos mentioned how much of a faster pace Game 2 was
than Game 1. Why do you think there was so much change?
ONDREJ PALAT: I don’t know. I thought the first game we play, we
play well the first two periods. The second game, we did that for 60
minutes. I felt in the second period, it open up a little bit. They had
some chances. We had, too.
I don’t know. I thought it was good hockey for the fans. I don’t
know, it was just good.
Q. Braydon, after a game like that last night, looked like a track
meet, fun to watch, can you sit back and appreciate it for what it is or are you happy to get the win and move on?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think right after the game, you’re happy to get
the win obviously. I think a few guys noted that the game was fast. There was a lot of up-and-down action. Everything happened quick out there as opposed to some other series and some other games.
I thought that might have been one of the fastest ones we played so far in the playoffs. Both teams back and forth. Guys making plays quickly with the puck, just the pace up and down the ice.
Q. Steven said he wasn’t sure what the goaltending situation was
going to be tomorrow. Does that change, preparation-wise, anything for you guys in terms of what you want to do as you look ahead to a Game 3?
BRAYDON COBURN: As long as they don’t need me to back up or anything like that, doesn’t change anything for me. I just focus on my game and getting ready for tomorrow.
ONDREJ PALAT: I think we’re confident in both goalies, if it’s Vasi or Bish. Highly skilled both. Doesn’t change anything.
Q. Braydon, with the inexperience or the youth on this team, are you surprised at the way this team has been able to adjust throughout going into Stanley Cup Finals? Seems like no matter what style of game it was, this team can play any style of game?
BRAYDON COBURN: That kind of goes into the depth of the team. This team can play a lot of different ways. I think we’ve had a lot of success through the regular season and through the playoffs so far.
But, you know, I think there’s a lot of guys, like Paly and Johnny, a handful of guys that had success at the American League level as well.
They’re able to rely on some of that playoff experience.
There’s a few guys that went all the way just last year, the Rangers guys that were there went to the Finals. Obviously Mo has got the Cup, Val has the Cup. Probably forgetting somebody else.
We have some young guys, but they’ve had success at different levels as well.
Q. You made a joke about being a backup goalie. Have you ever been
a goalie?
BRAYDON COBURN: No. That’s solely a joke (laughter).
Q. Ondrej, with your line breaking through with a couple goals last
night, Chicago getting the last change at home, do you expect a tougher defensive assignment?
ONDREJ PALAT: I don’t know. Not really. I thought we play against Keith and Hjalmarsson most of the time. I don’t know. I don’t expect it’s going to change, yeah.
Q. Braydon, preparation might not change depending on the goalie.
Obviously Bishop likes to play the puck a lot. I don’t know how much Vasi does. How much does that change in a game?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think both of them are very good puck handlers.
Probably Bish has got a little more experience doing it.
But I don’t know how much it would change. You still have your routes, your reads, what you’re going to do. It’s a tough question to answer just because I’m not too sure, you know, there would be too much change just because of the way we break out and kind of the structure of our defensive breakouts.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, guys.
(Feature Photo/Getty Images)
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