Quote Roundup: Game 5 (Blue Jackets)
By
Pens Writing Staff @PensInsideScoop / Pittsburgh Penguins
ON PLAYING THE RIGHT WAY
Sullivan: "Matchups aside, I know our team is capable of playing a much better game, a much more complete game on both sides of the puck and I think that's where the discussion rested with our group today, was making sure that we're focused and committed to playing the game the right way, being hard to play against, making good decisions with the puck, staying on the right side of people. When we do that, I think we're a competitive hockey team. That really was the discussion that we had with our group today. What I love about our group is we've shown an ability to respond to adversity and it wasn't our best game, we know it, our players know it and we know we're capable of being better."
ON HAVING THE KILLER INSTINCT
Crosby: "You have an opportunity to close out you want to make sure you do it. We know it's the most difficult game, you could see last night the desperation in their game and the importance for that to be in ours as well. It's an important game."
Dumoulin: "We want to have our best effort here. We want to come out of here and try to play the best hockey we can, and we know if we play our best hockey then we can be one of the best teams in this league. It is important for us to try and do that tonight."
Rust: "It's the hardest game to win. The other team is desperate and we have to find to find that same level of desperation, work ethic and will."
ON REGROUPING AFTER GAME 4
Hornqvist: "We learned a lot from last game because we were always one step behind them, so we have to go through them and we have to be closer to play as more of a five-man unit. If we do that then we are in good shape."
Daley: "I don't think there's a secret formula. I think we recognize it. It's something that, we addressed it and now it's time to go out there and get it done."
Maatta: "You know, I think the biggest thing is we are a better team than we played last game. We know we have to get back to it and start playing the game the right way again, and when we do that we are good enough to win."
ON BEING BACK AT HOME
Dumoulin: "It's huge. You feel the energy, you go out there and see the towels waving - it's a cool atmosphere. It's fun to play in. Obviously we didn't want a Game 5, but we are excited to have it here back on home ice and try to get it done here."
Hornqvist: "It's going to be huge for us. It is always fun for us to play in front of our own fans. They have been really loud in playoffs and we are looking forward to tonight and putting the last game behind us."
ON IMPROVING THEIR STARTS
Sheary: "They're coming out just as hard as we want to come out, so it's difficult sometimes. The puck bounces their way instead of yours. I think if we stick to our plan and like we always say, just get pucks behind their D and use our speed to our advantage, I think that's when we're at our best and just try to start that way today."
Schultz: "Working as a five-man unit to win faceoffs, getting possession and then holding onto pucks in the offensive zone, making smart reads. We're at home. We can take it to them here."
ON WHAT THE CROSBY LINE CAN DO BETTER
Sheary: "I would say we're a little disappointed. We gave up those three goals when we were on the ice and that's not like us. If we get an offensive game and start playing in their zone it will be a little different tonight."
Crosby: "We generated a few chances. I think you can't always compare game to game. You've got to look at it for what it was (Tuesday) night and I think that night, we didn't get enough on the forecheck and we probably didn't get enough guys to the net consistently. But it's hard to compare game to game. We've had some games where we've had a ton of chances and sometimes you're not always going to get that many, but we've still got to create more. Looking at it, we just have to find ways to get to the net a little bit more and create a few more turnovers."
