They Said It: Top Quotes from the Preds Ahead of Game 5 in Carolina

The last time the Predators traversed the event level of PNC Arena, they were leaving their locker room and beginning their journey back to Nashville down 2-0 to the Hurricanes in their first-round series.
When the Preds stepped back off the bus in Raleigh on Tuesday morning ahead of Game 5, they had a best-of-three awaiting them.
How the tables have turned.

Regardless of what happens tonight in North Carolina, Game 6 back in Nashville will be of the elimination variety for one of the two clubs, and with a chance to take a lead in the series for the first time, the Predators are hoping to steal one on the road.
Here are the best quotes from the Preds ahead of Game 5.
Preds forward Nick Cousins on what his team has to do to limit Carolina's chances in the offensive zone:
"They're a big, heavy team, they're quick, all the forwards are really good at getting in on the forecheck, and I think if we can break out as clean as we have the last couple of games, we [should be able to] limit their O-zone time and set ourselves up for our forecheck. I feel like it's two similar teams that kind of play alike, so it's going to come down to who can do it for a longer period of time for 60 minutes. We know a lot about them, they know a lot about us, so it's not too tactical right now, it's just who can come out and establish their game plan right away."

Cousins on facing a hostile crowd in Carolina after having the Bridgestone Arena crowd on their side for Games 3 and 4:
"They have home-ice advantage, so we've got to win one on the road here, whether it's tonight or Game 7. That's playoff hockey - you've got to go into tough road buildings and play. Obviously, they have really good fans, their fans are loud and they obviously create energy for their team, so I think that we've got to flip the script here, and we know that. Our fans gave us a big boost back at home, but we've got to win on the road here now, so we should hopefully be able to silence their crowd here tonight."
Preds Head Coach John Hynes on if he believes it's possible to have momentum in a playoff series:
"The most important thing is really getting ready for the next game and understanding the areas that you did well to be able to win a game, and then the areas that need to get fixed. I think that every game is a reset. You've got to make sure you're mentally and physically ready to play the game that is in front of you. You have to have the lessons of the game prior to that, win or lose, good things and bad things, but it's all about the next game and making sure that you are at an emotional level, a physical level that you're going to give yourself the chance to be able to compete at the level you need to win the game."

Hynes on facing the Hurricanes frequently and remaining focused to face the same team in a playoff series:
"We're in the Stanley Cup Playoffs where we're trying to give ourselves a chance to continue to go on here and compete for the Stanley Cup, which is the hardest trophy to win in sports. There are going to be little tactical things, but it comes down to the motivation level, loving the competitiveness this time of year, getting emotionally and physically ready to go, becoming harder and harder to play against as the series continues to go on, and you've got to dig in mentally and physically. The best part of this time of year is that in order to win games and win a series and continue to move on, you've got to have mental toughness, physical toughness, you've got to have some guts, you've got to have guys that can stay focused and really thrive in the competitiveness that it takes this time of year to win and that's what the focus is. I think the tactics, you do have to adjust little things as it goes on, but this time of year, and then at this point in the series, you've got to be all in with some toughness."