Gerard Gallant met with the media prior to Game 7 and said (NYR):
- A preview of your Game 7 speech, (laugh) “Same as all year, not gonna change and that is not a whole lot of speech, might be 25-seconds (laugh).”
- Do you really look at it as just another game, “we can say all we want just another game, but if you lose, you go home. Obviously the guys know, you don’t gotta bring it up, you don’t gotta read the paper and go ‘oh, it’s game 7. We know what is at stake, but you go play, you can’t change your prep or game plan, you play the game and play it hard and hopefully you get the breaks and win the hockey game.”
- How comforting is it to have Igor, “I don’t think of that. I know what I’ve got and relied on him all year long and relied on Georgie when he played all year long. Doesn’t cross my mind, it’s just our team and the way you play as a team, it’s not about one guy or your top players, you need everybody to win and be successful and that is what we rely on.”
- Do you think Carolina pulled Raanta for the same reason you pulled Shesterkin against the Pens, “definitely. Reset them, let them reset for sure.”
- Can you play the way you did at MSG in Carolina or do match ups change that, “a little bit. Obviously they get the last change, a little bit there, but I think you gotta get your best players on the ice as much as you can. Everybody has to be a big part of it no matter who you are playing against, you gotta play your best game, competitive game. Rod is a big-time match up guy with the Staal line and that is obvious, I would be too if I had that type of line, that is what they do best. We’re not going to worry about that, we’re just gonna go out and play our game and, again, I go back to Game One and Two, we could have won both of those games in this building. We played well enough to have a chance to win.”
- Is it important to score first, “I know the numbers when you score first, but it’s about the last goal at the end of the game. I’d like to score first, but if we don’t, we’re not going to quit.”
- Are you confident your team can come back against Carolina, “yea, I think we’re first or second in the league of coming back. You just keep playing, work hard, keep playing, battle hard. It’s a good team over there, we think we’re a good team. Hopefully we’ll get the break and win a hockey game.”
- How much of Shesterkin’s play against Pitt has impacted this series, “I’ve never had an issue with Igor, I had more of an issue with our team when those games come up. He’s a young goalie, hadn’t had much playoff experience and obviously that is the key position, when you’re a goaltender and you get rattled a little bit. I don’t know if he got rattled, I don’t bother with him, I let him do his prep and let Benny handle Igor and he’s done his job and played really well and been the best goalie in the NHL all season long and that is what we expect and get most nights. We’re happy with him and expect him to be ready to go again tonight.”
- Do you expect any veteran players to give a big speech, “I hope not. They had a day and a half to get ready to play. Our kids are prepared, we talk about it, they now have 14 games of experience in the playoffs and they are excited and playing well and like I said, it’s all about our team. I’m sure Trouba and Kreider might say a few little things, but I don’t think they are going to go over the top. That is not what we need, we just need to play our game and play it fast and that is what we try and talk to our players about, playing our game and doing the best thing and if you get 20 guys pulling the rope the same way and play well you move on, if you don’t, well, you work the best you can.”
- Did Goodrow come out of that game healthy, “everybody is fine. They didn’t skate today, it was an optional skate.”
- Safe to assume that the lineup will be the same, “I would assume that. (laugh) Unless Sammy Blais comes out (big laugh).”