When you’re a bit discouraged and upset after taking a number of penalties in game 3 against the Flyers, including the one that led to the game-winning goal by Dan Carcillo, it helps to have perhaps one of the greatest on-ice leaders in the history of the NHL as your assistant coach.
Scott Stevens, former Devils captain and current assistant coach, took Clarkson aside and spoke to him about (supposedly) keeping his head up and keeping that competitive fire going after a downer of a game. Of course, we’ll never know exactly what he said.
From Rich Chere of The Star-Ledger:
“I was upset. You’re down,” Clarkson said this morning. “As a competitor you want to come back the next game and be the difference.
“It was Scotty who spoke to me. I admire him. He pulled me aside and spoke to me. I appreciate what he said.”