SUTTER ON RUZICKA’S PLAY OF LATE:
“I said in training camp he put in a really good summer in terms of training and all his on-ice, off-ice, lifestyle, that sort of thing. He’s done a really good job. He just didn’t take that step in training camp. But, when you’re challenged to get some offense, he was one guy that I think can provide it. The other part of it, too, is if we are going to be a playoff team, I think it’s important. that we have some young players take the next step and he’s shown that lately, for sure.”
ON HUBERDEAU WITH BACKLUND & LEWIS:
“They’re similar-type players. It’s not ‘bringing anything out of them.’ He’s a good player. He’s got to get going. Right? Enough talk about it.”
Video: Hear from the head coach ahead of tonight’s tilt
HUBERDEAU ON RETURNING FROM INJURY:
“Hasn’t been the best (season) for me but obviously it’s early and we went through a bad stretch as a team as well. Everybody has to get out of it and I think it’s that for me. I’ve had a couple days to re-focus mentally and now I’m ready to go and be the best that I can.”
ON NEW LINEMATES:
“Obviously, be good in the defensive zone and main focus, obviously, you want to go and play in their end and be good offensively as well. It’s good. I’m excited. Obviously, it will be a lot of fun and playing with these guys, they’re so smart, so it’s going to be interesting.
“I don’t feel pressure. I think I want to be the best that I can out there and it doesn’t matter what line I’m playing (on). I want to be effective and that’s my goal. … I want to go out there, not think too much and have fun.”
ON BEING BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN:
“It was nice to see. I think we needed a win to feel good and kind of go in that direction and that’s what we did Saturday. Obviously, we’ve got to keep it going. Good team coming in tonight and it’s the last home game for a while, so we’ve got to take advantage of that.
“Obviously, the mood and the energy in the room as well. Today it feels better and we’ve just got to go in that direction and get on another streak.”
Video: “I’m ready to go and be the best that I can”
MANGIAPANE ON BUILDING OFF SATURDAY:
“Obviously, it was important for us to get a win. It (hasn’t) been coming easy, I’d say, for us to get a win, so it was good we all came together and finally played a good game and was able to win.”
ON LIGHTER MOOD IN THE ROOM:
“When you’re winning, everything’s better. It’s easier to make plays, easier to do little things like that, so we’ve got to build off what we did last game and carry it into this game. Obviously, they’re a good team and we’ve got to be prepared and ready to play.”
Video: “We have to build off what we did last game”
ON PRESSURE TO PERFORM:
“I think it could play a factor. Everybody wants to do well in here and help each other out and win games, right? When things aren’t going the best for you, just little things like double-clutching and maybe trying to force plays and little things like that. I think last game we kind of eliminated most of the bad plays and turnovers and things like that. We’re learning as a team and it was good. It was good for us to win, important for us. to win, and realize how hard it is to win in this league. Just got to carry that attitude forward into the rest of the season.”
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