Via the team:
Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates on overcoming a loss in which the team showed excellent puck possession…
“It very tough because the guys played a good game. Probably one of the better games we’ve played against that team. To come out on the short end of the stick is difficult. We did a lot of good things in the game.”
Washington Capitals head coach Adam Oates on tonight being a measuring stick game…
“I think we played a pretty good hockey game. We did a lot of good things. Easily could have won the game. We’ve got to give them credit they played well, their big dogs scored. Like always, there are always things to work on. I thought 5-on-5 we played good. I thought Fehrsie’s [Eric Fehr] might have had the best game they’ve played all year. We had a lot of point shots. We did a lot of good things and like always there is things to work on.”
Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich on the play of the Capitals tonight…
“I thought for the bulk of the game we actually did a lot of what we talked about this morning. We did the things we wanted to do. We know that their forwards don’t like to play defense, which allows us to get sustained pressure in the offensive zone. They rely a lot on their defensemen and we want to get point shots out of that, too. In the third, I think they did a good job of protecting it [the lead], but still, we’re right in that hockey game with a chance to win it or certainly tie it and take it to OT [over time].”
Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich on controlling play in the neutral zone…
“If you look at the game tonight, I mean, scoring chances I think would be in our favor. They’re just a very opportunistic team. The neutral zone – controlling the neutral zone was a key for us today, and two of the goals they got we didn’t [control it]. The first [goal] at the start of the game, certainly, and the third one they get speed through the neutral zone and make a play, and after that they capitalize on their opportunity. Other than that I didn’t think they had a whole lot.”
Washington Capitals right wing Eric Fehr on what went right for the Capitals tonight…
“It’s a little frustrating to really have dominant time of possession and be playing well then find yourself down 3-2 and not being able to recover. We had a lot of good chances at the end, and it’s really unfortunate. I thought we threw everything at them, and we were good in the offensive zone. We created chances; we just couldn’t put that last one in.”
Washington Capitals right win Eric Fehr on the keys to winning their game tomorrow in Pittsburgh…
“I think we have to look at the positives. We had some time where we outplayed them and we have to try to do that again tomorrow. They’re going home, and they feel comfortable in their rink and they’re a different team in their building, so we have to try to remember what we did well tonight and do that again tomorrow.”
Washington Capitals forward Evgeny Kuznetsov on playing his first NHL game against a division rival…
“I was a little bit worried the first time I stepped on the ice, but with each shift I got better and better. I understood what I needed to do and how I needed to play…This is my first game, but a lot of players have told me that it’s just like the Russian rivalries. [They are] just like that ones we have in Russia, so I know what it’s like.”
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma on Sidney Crosby and his linemates…
“It was a very good game in all aspects. I thought 5-on-5 play we saw the speed they generated and got the scoring chances. Used them in [defensive] zone situations and did a great job there…Chris Kunitz, Sidney Crobsy, and [Lee ] Stempniak tonight not only found some plays, some time together, some chances. They were exceptional.”
Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Dan Bylsma on [Chris] Kunitz’s second goal that put the Penguins ahead for good…
“I thought the second half of the second period was [our best response]. We responded with that goal on the neutral zone play and the rush goal, Kunitz getting the second chance. Then, while we didn’t generate a lot of shots, we had three or four shifts back in the other end, got the lead back and kept playing with it.”
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi on containing the Capitals power play…
“I think we did a good job taking away the passing lanes through the middle. Certainly, they’ve got [Alex] Ovechkin and [John] Carlson with big one-timers and they try to set up with Backstrom on one side and look for those two on the other. I thought we did a good job just sitting back and not giving them passing lanes and making them shoot themselves. It’s way easier for the defense and goalie if you can just keep the puck on one half of the ice and not have to be going side to side. I guess I thought everyone did a good job with that.”
Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Rob Scuderi on the play of goaltender Jeff Zatkoff…
“Any PK has to have good goaltending. He’s always going to be your best penalty killer. Doesn’t matter how good the system is you have working for you, they’re going to get shots. The other teams have top-end guys too. At the end of it, the goalie has to make the big save and we had that all night.”
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby on the success his team has had against the Capitals recently…
“They’ve always been pretty tight games I think, nothing different than when you play other teams that have some guys who are really dangerous. They showed that tonight, I think they had some really good chances throughout the game but we need to find a way to stay out of our end a little bit more. For the most part, I think we need to just commit to playing defense and let our offensive game take care of itself.”
Pittsburgh Penguins forward Sidney Crosby on his power-play goal…
“Yeah, I don’t take too many of those. It’s nice to see one go in. Usually I’m a little closer when they go in, so it’s nice to get one.”