They Said It: Top Quotes from the Preds Ahead of Game 1 in Colorado

The 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs have arrived.
In just a few short hours, the puck will drop for Game 1 between the Nashville Predators and Colorado Avalanche in Denver to start what could end up being a remarkable two-month journey.
Practice days and media sessions are all wrapped up ahead of tonight's game, and now the only focus for the Preds is the first meeting of the series against the Avs. Colorado won 56 games in the regular season and took the Western Conference title, but the visiting Preds have plenty of confidence heading into Ball Arena tonight. But now, the time for previewing is just about done.

Here are some of the best quotes from the Preds heading into Game 1 in Colorado.
Preds defensemen Mattias Ekholm on the effects of pressure in the Playoffs:
"We pressure ourselves. We think we're a good team… I know [Colorado] is a heavy favorite. I know they're a great team. But other than that, we believe in our team. We believe in our group. I know we've been a bit inconsistent and that's how we ended up [where we are at the end of] the regular season, but at the same time, when we're on top of our game - and I know we can be for stretches - we are a really good team and hard to beat. In Game 1, maybe it doesn't really matter so much about the pressure. It's going to come later in the series when it's Game 3 or Game 4. If we go to an early lead or if we tie up earlier in Game 4, that's where the pressure starts. For us, it's coming out strong in Game 1, but knowing it's a long series, and the longer it goes the more pressure is going to be on them."

Ekholm on the benefits of the Preds being the underdog:
"As soon as the games get going - they are going to be tight games - we're going to do everything in our power to first try to steal Game 1, but just to make our presence known. I think our team is suited really well for playoff hockey. We're a heavy team and we like to play a physical style game. Being an underdog, we have been at our best when we've had that mentality. So, we'd like to use it as much as we can."
Preds Head Coach John Hynes on if the Preds are embracing the role of an underdog in this series:
"I think that's a little bit of a narrative, but more outside. When we came in, at the beginning of the year, we talked about the belief we had in the room, and we've concentrated a lot on how are we going to maximize our team? How are we going to play to our strengths? How are we going to give ourselves a chance to win every night? We're going to write our own story, and it's no different when you come into the playoffs. I mean, there's favorites, there are underdogs, and to me it doesn't really matter. You have to go and play the game, you've got to compete, you have to play to the best of your ability and there's lots of different things that go on in the series. We have a lot of respect for Colorado, but to us it's about focusing on what we can control, and our job is to come out and try to ice the game that gives us the best chance to win. And I think if our focus is on ourselves, our room, our team, how we play tonight, how we get better after tonight, win or loss, those are the things that we can control and those are the things that are ultimately going to drive whether we win or lose games."

Hynes on how identity has played a role in shaping the 2021-22 season:
"What we wanted to do was assemble a team that was hard to play against and assemble guys that can play the game at the competitive level that's required at the NHL to win to give yourself a chance to be a playoff team. Eighty-two games is a grind. There's a lot of good teams, there's a lot of parity. So, how can you put together a team of a lot of naturally competitive guys that play the game hard, play the game the right way, are willing to be good teammates and are willing to be part of a team that gives you the best chance to win? We were able to accomplish that this year in the regular season. Now, we have a different challenge. Now, it's the second season. It's the playoffs. So, we need to see where our group is at, where our identity is at and see if that's good enough to be able to come in and win a playoff game."