Chicago Blackhawks vs. Philadelphia Flyers
Stanley Cup Finals, Game 2
Blackhawks lead series 1-0
Live on NBC, 8 p.m. EDT
Join us for a live chat for tonight’s game @ 7:45 p.m.
As we gear up for Game 2, here’s some quotes from the Flyers and the Blackhawks from today.
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette, on Dan Carcillo’s attitude and approach:
“Danny Carcillo has done an excellent job with his discipline when he’s been in the lineup, so he plays an aggressive game. He can agitate a little bit. He’s physical. And I think he’s done an excellent job of controlling his game and keeping it legal.”
Laviolette, on the decision to start Michael Leighton:
“We haven’t had to make a decision in a long time, I said that yesterday, just based on injury. We just wanted to go back and talk about everything.
“Michael Leighton, his numbers have been excellent for us in the regular season. They’ve been excellent in the Playoffs. His bounceback coming back here. Game 3 in Montreal was kind of the same scenario that we were in last night. We played -- we need to play better in front of him. Everybody could be better. Our goaltending, we said that yesterday, our goaltending, defense, forwards, our game can be better; and we all seemed to respond as a team in Game 4.”
Simon Gagne, on Carcillo’s return:
“He’s a guy that -- you know he’s not a big guy, but he’s going to bring some physical aspect. He’s going to run around, I think, finish every check that he’s able to do, and at the same time, he’s got some skills too. He’s a guy who can make some plays and score some big goals for us against Jersey in the first round.”
Ian Laperriere on the attitude of the Flyers:
“Very confident. We’re relaxed. There’s no panic, nothing. We know we made mistakes. That’s what cost us the first game; and we did a lot of good things and we did a lot of bad things. That’s why we came on the wrong side of the game last game. Everybody is pretty relaxed and just enjoying our free time in Chicago, I guess.”
Chicago coach Joel Quenneville, on Dustin Byfuglien’s struggles in Game 1:
“I still think he was a factor last game. He’s a presence physically. I think -- I know he finishes checks. I think the player receives it, knows he’s around. I think Buff -- we didn’t get enough pucks at the net when he was there.
“I think he’s tried to get to the front of the net. He was there sometimes when the puck didn’t arrive. I still think he’s a factor when we do get a power-play that he can make an imprint in that area. I still think he’s useful in a lot of ways.”
Jonathan Toews, on whether the nerves of the team have calmed a bit:
“I think so. May have been the same thing for both teams. It’s a big stage. A long week just to sit there and think about it. If you’re kind of -- just got a couple of days and you go in that first game, maybe you pick up where you left off in the previous round a little bit more.
“But, you know, now I think as a team we feel we’re back in the routine, back in the swing of things. We can go out there and play hockey and focus on the smaller details of our game.”
Dustin Byfuglien, on whether he’s willing to pay the price to get room in the crease, going against Pronger:
“Definitely. You go out there and stand with him and do what you have to do. It’s part of the game. When they get a power-play they really stand around and be there with their presence. I’ll be there until the end of it.”