Gill says Habs have to make more things happen

Tuesday, 05.18.2010 / 11:04 PM
Shawn P. Roarke  - NHL.com Senior Managing Editor
PHILADELPHIA --  Montreal's Hal Gill has seen his team come back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Washington Capitals and a 3-2 deficit against the Pittsburgh Penguins. But he admits the Canadiens may be in a different predicament after losing the first two games of the Eastern Conference Finals in Philadelphia.

The Flyers have been nearly perfect to start this best-of-seven series, following up Sunday's 6-0 victory with a 3-0 win in Tuesday's Game 2 at the Wachovia Center.

Game 3 is Thursday night at the Bell Center.

Despite the 0-2 deficit and a lack of a single goal against Philadelphia goalie Michael Leighton, Gill remained steadfast in the wake of Game 2 that his team can make a series out of what has been a one-sided affair.

Here are some of Gill's comments in the wake of a Game 2 performance that saw Gill play 16:04, take one penalty, block a shot, force a turnover and commit a turnover of his own. Gill was also on the ice as part of the penalty-killing unit that allowed the game-opening goal by Danny Briere.

Q:  They're not taking penalties, are they?

Gill:  They've been pretty disciplined, but they haven't been uncomfortable. We need to make them uncomfortable and maybe we will talk them into some penalties.

Q: Have you put enough traffic in front of Leighton?

Gill: Did we? I guess not. We have to find a way to do that. We have to talk about it and find a way to get some more scoring chances, some more traffic; all of those things.

Q: Was this a better effort?

Gill: Much better effort. We played right with them. We were moving the puck. We did some good things, just not enough of them. We have to find a way to make more of them happen.

Q: It seems like there was a concerted effort to be physical, especially early in the game. Is this a team that is not going to do something stupid, a team that is just composed at this point?

Gill: Right now they are, because they are winning. It's easy to stay composed when you are winning. We have to find a way to turn the tide and get some more scoring and we have to be more stingy defensively. Those things will make them more uncomfortable and we can take advantage of them that way.

Q: Do you take any confidence out of the fact that you take away the power-play goals and it was an even game?

Gill: It was an even game. Take away those, do a little better job on the PK and we're right in it.

Q: What happened on the first goal?

Gill: I just bit on the pump fake. He's coming through with a lot of speed and I went for the pump fake. He's a good player and he made a good play.

Q: How tough is it going to be to come back against this team?

Gill: It's going to be tough. We have to find a way to score goals and make things happen for us. It's a good team and they are playing well right now. They are a good team, but we have to find a way to do it.

Q: Josh (Gorges) was jumping into the play a lot more. Was it a case of throwing anything and everything at them?

Gill: At some time, you have to do different things. That is what good goaltending and good defense does; it makes you do different things. We have to stay with our basic game plan, but we have to do some different things.

Q: Next time you hear them singing "Ole, Ole, Ole," it will be for you guys.

Gill: Yeah, it'll be nice to get home. We have to make it work for us. We can't just go home and expect it to go our way. We have to work for it.








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