SAY WHAT: 'HOPEFULLY I CAN STEP UP'

GEOFF WARD ON TONIGHT'S GAME:

ON MIKAEL BACKLUND:

"He's a game-time decision. It will be a little bit different. We do have to pay attention to (matchups) if he's not able to go. But at the same time, it's an opportunity for somebody else. We've talked about our depth all year and how and the most important lineup is the one that's on the ice. If he can't go, then somebody else will have an opportunity."

ON BYRON FROESE:

"He's been good. He's a real smart player, he's good in the faceoff circle and he understands the game, as far as reading it goes. He's really good defensively, he's aware of what's going on the ice and what's happening around him. He's a good hockey player. When you play over 100 games in the NHL, you're not a bad player. We like what he brings; he brings good size, he's competitive. There are an awful lot of things he brings to the lineup that help us."

ON CONNOR MACKEY:

"He skates well, he's generally good on his gaps, he sees the ice well, is able to move the puck up quickly in transition. He's not afraid of the physical battles and he's hard in them. There's an awful lot of things that we like about him, and he's a smart player."

MILAN LUCIC ON THE FIRST QUARTER:

"I think it's been a little Jekyll and Hyde. Our 'good' has been really good. It just hasn't been there enough, if you ask me, in the first quarter of the season. It's only a 56-game season, so you don't have that much time to figure things out. … It just comes down to consistency, being 'stubborn' in your play and doing the same thing, shift after shift, and game after game. Maybe we're not stubborn enough in playing the exact same way every single shift, so I think that's what we need to do a little bit more of."

ELIAS LINDHOLM ON BACKLUND:

"He's been really good for us. "Obviously, it would be a huge loss [if he can't play], but when something like that happens, someone else is getting a bigger role and will play more minutes. Hopefully I can step up and it's up to the rest of the centres, as well, to step up and take on a bigger role."

ON FACEOFFS IN MINI-SERIES VS. CANUCKS:

"The good faceoff guys are very consistent and they don't change too much. For me, I go against (Bo) Horvat a lot and he's pretty strong and does the same thing over and over again. So, for me, I try to win one or two in the beginning and get the confidence right away, and hopefully get more excited every time you get in there. Obviously, you need help from your wingers as well. But the good guys are so consistent and do the same things over and over again."