Quote Roundup: Game 6 (Predators)
By
Pens writing staff @PensInsideScoop / Pittsburgh Penguins
On what kind of mindset they need:
Murray: "We just try to stay in the moment. There are for sure a lot of distractions this time of year and it gets heightened as you go, but you really just block that out. I think once the puck drops, you get back to playing the game you love with your teammates, so that's what keeps you in the moment and that's what we're focused on."
Crosby: "I think it's about going there and playing your best game. I think that you can draw on different experiences. I think everyone does that when you get to big moments like this, regardless of what side of it you're on. I think you draw on your experiences. It's about going out there and playing your best when it means the most and I think that we trust we can do that. That's our mindset going in."
Sullivan: "The elimination game is always the most difficult to get. We have to understand the challenge and I believe our players do. And then we have to bring the necessary effort and execution in order to have success. I think that's the most important thing we need. It's about the mindset going in. We are doing our very best as a coaching staff to make sure that we are trying to steer that mindset the right way to give our players the best chance to be successful. I really believe in these types of games when the emotions are high, the stakes are high, it's about focus. It's about attention to detail. It's about effort. It's about execution and controlling what you have out there. That is where our whole focus is and it's about the process. We are going to make sure that we stay in the moment here and we just control what we can to get the favorable outcome."
Hornqvist: "The fourth win is always the hardest to get. We know we're going to get Nashville's best here tonight. What else can you say? It's going to be a hell of a game out there and we have to play a really, really good game to win this one. We have to come prepared and we're all really looking forward for this moment and to go out there and get started."
On what to expect heading back to Nashville:
Crosby: "You know they're going to be desperate. You expect that. You know that and you try to worry about your own game. I think you need to understand what you'e going to see, but you also have to understand that you need to play your own game. You need that to have the best of your ability. We understand that. We've had a couple games there. We know the surroundings. We need to go in there and have a good game."
Cullen: "I think we learned what we knew going in, but I guess we have a better feel for what to expect. As far as the atmosphere, it's a good atmosphere. It's a playoff game atmosphere. I think, more importantly, we learned what we need to do here and the game we need to play to be successful. In our last game, I thought we brought a lot of those elements and there are always areas to improve upon. I think we all feel like we've played a game we can manufacture here again and have good results."
Hagelin: "We know they are going to be a confident group when they play there. We can't just go in thinking, 'What is going to happen here.' We have to go out and earn it right away. They are a good team at home and they have a good crowd. Obviously, they're loud. We should use that to our advantage-get that first goal and go from there. "
Sheary: "Especially in Nashville, I think we want to take their crowd out of it as much as we can. It would be nice to get an early goal, but if we can just kind of control the play and play in the offensive zone, we can make them play on their heals a little bit, I think we'll be good."
Sullivan: "I think our guys are going to be familiar with the environment. I think there were some positives from the way we played in those games and there were areas where we needed to be better. I think especially Game 4, we liked a lot of the way we played in Game 4. So, I think the lesson learned is regardless of where the game is being played; we just have to play to our strengths. I think when our team does that and we play the game the right way we are a competitive team and we give ourselves the best chance to win. That was the message today. We are going to have to go into a difficult building and bring our very best game. I believe when we do that, we are just as competitive a team as there is in the league."
On their start in Game 5 and how important it will be to replicate that:
Crosby: "It's important. You always want to have a good start. That's pretty typical. I'm sure they're saying the same thing. I think it's just understanding the situation and putting a full game together. It starts with the first 10 minutes, trying to establish our game and it may not necessarily mean we're up 1-0, but if we can keep to our game and get to it often, that's important to us."
Sheary: "I think drawing a penalty and getting on a power play, then eventually getting our power play goal - we needed to get our power play going. I think that got our whole team going. I think if we can approach it the same way and have that first good shift from everyone, we'll be in a good spot."
On what they draw from last year's Cup-clinching Game 6 win in San Jose:
Murray: "A little bit, for sure. No two years are the same. No two games are the same. There's going to be different challenges and it's about how you handle it, how you rise up to them. That's what we are going to try to be focused on."
Cullen: "The experience of having gone through it helps. We lean on our experiences a lot in here. Every series is different, every game is different, but we have an opportunity here and it's one we really want to take advantage of."
Crosby: "I think we just focused on that game and not everything kind of surrounding it. We tried to take care of our own game and what we needed to do and let the rest take care of itself. I thought we did a really good job of that and I think our focus is there. I think that we're going to give ourselves the best opportunity here tomorrow."
Hagelin: "Obviously, it was a positive outcome in that game. Hopefully, we can think back and draw some good things out of it. I think we came out with a vengeance in that game. We were ready to play the right way for 60 minutes and that's the way we have to see it tomorrow. We have to set the pace. We have to dictate the terms out there and we have to be the better team."
Sheary: "I think it's just the mindset. I think you have to just not worry about home ice too much and not worry about how good they are on their home ice. Just go out there and play the way you know how to. Don't listen to the noise around you. Just go out and have fun and work hard. I think it will work out for us."
On the opportunity to repeat for the first time in 19 years:
Cullen: "I mean - it's a dream. It's something that you wouldn't even ever dare dream about. Honestly, to not think about that, I guess that's just part of the challenge right now at this time of the year. It's so important to just stay in the moment and focus on what you need to focus on. To have that dream sitting up there is pretty exciting."
Crosby: "I think going through the regular season, the whole playoffs up to this point, you can see the different challenges you are faced with and dealing with different injuries and things like that. I think regardless of whether we went through it last year or not, you look at what they have had to go through, too, to get to this point. But I think that experience, yeah. It tells you how difficult it is."
Murray: "We just stay in the moment. That's just another distraction, honestly. I know I don't personally spend much time thinking about it. I just focus on tomorrow night's game and doing what I need to do to get prepared and do what gives us the best chance to be successful."
On how they handle the Cup being in the building:
Crosby: "I think everybody is different. I think it is whatever gets your best. I think, as far as the way I look at it, it is not just another game. I think we all understand that, but you have to approach that the same way and use that as motivation. If anything, I think that should push you. That should push you to be at your best and that is what we need tomorrow."
Kunitz: "If you can see your ultimate goal right in front of you, you should be able to drive yourself to have the best game of your life. That's why we're all here, to win. You don't get this opportunity too much, but also, they're going to be coming with their best game. If we sit back or not watch and not stay focused, that's their chance to jump into it. If we come out and play like we started last game and take their fans out of it and pressure them all over the ice, we're going to have success. We have to go out there and play our style of hockey from the first puck drop."
