7PM: Nemeth is in the lineup.
6:31 PM: Reaves will play and Dryden Hunt will be scratched. (MSG)
Justin Braun and Patrik Nemeth are both taking warmups. (MSG)
6 PM: Gerard Gallant met with the media prior to Game 1 and said (NYR):
- Reaves or Hunt, “….um (smile) might be neither, you don’t know. (laugh) We’re going to have one extra forward in warmup, put it that way. And one extra D.”
- Did you watch the games last night, “yea, I went back and forth a little bit when there were two on at the same time. Mostly watched Carolina, that game with Boston.”
- What do you sense the mood is right now, “I think they are really excited, ready to play. It’s been four days now. I’m excited, I know they are excited. Let’s get it going, because four days seems like two weeks, to be honest with you. But they are ready, they feel good, they are healthy and let’s go play, it should be a great series.”
- On how he treats Game 1, “Game 1 is huge, obviously. It sets the tone for the series. If you lose it’s not devastating but you are definitely not happy about it and it takes four games to win. I hope we come out really good tonight and take advantage of our home ice advantage and go to work and play well. Pitt is a good hockey team, we played them a lot lately and we look forward to a good series with them.”
- Do you draw on your own playoff experience, “Me? I’m just going to coach. I’m going to do what I do for the last number of years and have fun with it, enjoy it hopefully and coach and try to not mess anything up.”
- How do you think Lafreniere’s play will be well suited for the playoffs, “He’s got a lot of confidence right now. The kid had 19 goals this year and he’s played really good for us lately and they want to take a big step and are excited. We got some young players and a young team and it’s not as experienced as some of the other teams, but I think it’s a good thing. The players are really excited and the young guys work hard, compete hard and are coming to the rink with a lot of energy. I’m looking forward to that with those kids.”
- How does playoff experience weigh in lineup decisions, “With the players? No, none really. I got to know my players over 82-games and we are going to make some tough decisions and that is the way it is. We are doing what is best for our team and I’ve always told our guys that it doesn’t matter if you are the top player on our team or the 29th player on our team, everyone could be important in the playoffs sometimes. Stay in shape, stay ready and when your name is called be in there and ready to go.”
- On coaching his first playoff game in this building, “I’m looking forward to it, should be a lot of fun. It’s a loud building and we are playing a big rival in Pittsburgh, should be great.”