Peter Laviolette met with the media following the win over the Sharks and said (MSG):
- “Bit of a wild one. I liked the way we competed after coming in from last night, especially having to battle the way we did in the first period, the give and take, and then finally get a lead and push the lead again. I really liked the third period and the way we played it. You’re thinking that 6-3 is over and it wasn’t over. We could have been a little bit better there at the end, but at the end of the day guys fought really hard today under the circumstances and got ourselves a win.”
- Are you still seeing more positives than negatives over the last few wins, “I thought last night was a bit of a tougher game. Just being on the road and traveling to Nashville. Coming home here, if that game ends 6-3 there is probably none of these questions, but it doesn’t, it ends 6-5. I actually think the third period was our best, it was a really quiet period offensively, I thought we were good, did some good things, there wasn’t a lot of noise defensively and then they scored that goal and made it 6-4 and it resets and they score another one within a minute. That sets you back and gives you a different flavor in your mouth and the third period and how it was played. I thought we reset after that and just finished it out.”
- Is going to the net something you continue to focus on, “we talk about it all the time. Those two areas in front of the net, defensively and offensively, that is the prime real estate but often it comes with the price of getting there and paying that price to find those areas. I do think that offensively, from the start of the year, we’ve started to fire on more cylinders and the more you get into that area or deliver pucks into that area. Even Lindy’s goal last night, just get people in there and pushing pucks in there and anything can happen. Bread’s goal is an example of another one tonight. There have been a lot of goals inside that area and I think that is a good thing.”
- Does it show that the message is received when someone like Panarin is going to the net, “From the beginning of the year when I was sitting and saying that we need more 5-on-5, need more offense and push more, I do think it’s been better. Maybe it had to be practiced or assumed as part of our identity that we are going to go to the hard areas with more pucks and people there. But like anything, it wasn’t working then, there is more now. Like anything, something will go south and we’ll have to address it at some point but right now we are getting people in there and pushing things to the net.”
- What have you learned about Panairn, “he’s always been a really good player, an elite player. I think you appreciate him more when you watch him day in and out and watch the plays that he makes and things that he does and you appreciate him more.”
- On Jonny Brodzinski, “He had a really good training camp and we were just talking about pushing things offensively from training camp, he was the one guy who did. He was generating lots of scoring chances, attempts, pucks at the net. He was doing lots of good things and he does that through his speed and offensive instincts and skills. Trying to put people in positions where they can be successful, that would be a spot for him to come up and show what he can do, on the PP, inside that type of situation and line. Then it’s up to him, up to people to make the most of the opportunities.”
- On Will Cuylle’s goal, “heck of a play by Bonino first, to delay it and Cuylle was able to wiggle between them and split them and a really nice pass. But still, that is still coming full speed and having to pull that off the backhand and give it to the forehand and put it exactly where it needed to go. Young player, he gives everything he’s got every night. He’s physical and I think he is off to a good start. He’s learning, but he’s off to a good start and tonight he had a big one. I think his effort is consistent, he’s a young kid that cares, he’s fast, physical, he hits, goes to the front of the net, really coachable kid. It was nice to see him score a big goal like that.”
- On Alexis Lafreniere’s skating and defensive responsibility, “I think that from an offensive standpoint, he has clicked on all cylinders. That line has been really good, chemistry with the three of them, they’ve been a line that has been producing consistently all year. I do like the fact that both, that line, Troch is more of a PKer and found those responsibilities more, I like the fact that his two wingers are paying a detailed game to make sure they are doing the correct things defensively as well and you get people who push the game offensively and win games for you they want that opportunity to finish a game when you’re up and so there is a trust that goes there. Right now they are on top of their game and driving our team and gotta give them a chance to finish games as well.”