Quote Roundup: Game 2 (Capitals)
© Andi Perelman
By
Pens writing staff @PensInsideScoop / Pittsburgh Penguins
ON WINNING GAME 1
Kessel: "Each game is different. They're a good team. We know they're going to come out hard next game. We just have to be ready."
Rust: "Any time you can go in another team's building and take Game 1 is big. We've got to try and build off some of the things we did well in that game but learn from some of the things we didn't do well. I think we've just got to keep building."
ON TURNING THE PAGE FOR GAME 2
Crosby: "We want to get better with every game. We think we can improve in different areas. We want to make sure that we do that. We know that they're going to have a big push and we have to make sure we're getting better."
Sullivan: "I just think we've got to stay hungry and we know that we got a win in Game 1, which is great. This team has a resilience about it and a certain knack for finding ways to win. I think it starts with their competitive spirit, but certainly by no means are we satisfied. That's an important message for all of us. We've got to make sure we stay hungry. We've got to reset our mindset. We've got to try and go out and win a game. Our main focus is just on the one game ahead of us. We're not trying to dwell on the past or look into the future. We're trying to stay right in the moment and bring our very best."
ON GETTING ANOTHER STRONG START
Crosby: "That's important, to get a good start, especially for us. We have to make sure we're doing the right things and get some momentum. There wasn't much happening, but that's how playoff games are sometimes."
Hornqvist: "Just playing behind them. That's going to be the key of the whole series for us. We're really good when we get pucks behind them and create that forecheck and create those long shifts down there. That's going to be key, and same with playing quick out of our end zone because they're really good forechecking too. Whoever plays quicker out of their end zone is going to have success in this series."
Rust: "I think our start is really big. Just trying to establish momentum, trying to take some of the intensity out of the crowd and out of their game. I think the way we come out is going to dictate the way the game goes."
ON GETTING OUTCHANCED LAST GAME AND REVERSING THAT TREND
Sullivan: "Attempts are an indication of territory, where the game's being played. It doesn't always tell a true picture of the game itself, the quality of chances. We don't want to spend as much time in our end zone as we have. We think we're at our best when we control territory. It's something that we've been working on with our players and talking to our players about, doing a better job of hanging onto pucks in the offensive zone.
Rust: "Puck possession is always key, because if you're in the offensive zone cycling and working the puck around I think it wears them down a little bit more and takes a little bit more energy out of them then playing in our zone."
ON HOW TO CONTINUE STAYING DISCIPLINED
Rust: "Just keeping our feet moving. Trying not to use our sticks, but use our legs more, trying to win races or knock guys off the puck."
Cole: "I don't know what the numbers are exactly for their power play, but over the past 10 years, since (Alex Ovechkin) has been here they've had a very impressive power play and a very impressive percentage. They're so dangerous. It's not something that we expect to never take a penalty all game long or all series long, but if we can keep them off the power play, that's going to help us out for sure."
ON THE PP
Kessel: "We had two chances. We need to be better. Any time you get a power play in the playoffs, you don't get that many, you have to make everyone count.
