2015 Eastern Conference Final Post-Game 1 Transcript (New York Rangers - Lundqvist-Moore-McDonagh-Stepan) Our Coverage Sponsored by Vermont Harvest
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An interview with:
HENRIK LUNDQVIST
DOMINIC MOORE
RYAN McDONAGH
DEREK STEPAN
Q. Are all these one-goal games mentally exhausting and what does it say that you've won the majority of these low-scoring games?
Dominic, a lot of playful ribbing from your teammates about it going off your shin pad. Take us through the goal from your perspective?
DEREK STEPAN: Playoffs, there's not much room out there. It's super important that you do the things without the puck and with the puck. Obviously, Henrik has been a big part of it. We've just got to find ways to continue to get better.
Q. What is it about your line that you've had success?
DEREK STEPAN: I think my two wingers have worked extremely hard. Chris (Kreider) uses his speed, and Jesper (Fast) is tenacious in the corners. We've found some good chemistry together and we were able to just manage the game with good speed and not have too many bad turnovers.
When we make a mistake, our two "D" men help us out, and our goaltender makes saves for us.
Q. That is the second straight game that you've had goal off a rebound? What's going on out there?
DEREK STEPAN: It's just how the goals are scored in the playoffs. You don't see too many tic-tac-toe plays. You kind of have to get the ugly ones and that's where they're going to be scored is around the net.
Q. With Bishop being as big as he is, do you have to shoot for rebounds and kind of score goals there?
DEREK STEPAN: He's a good goaltender. He played extremely well tonight, and obviously, through the playoffs he's been really good for them. It doesn't change much for us considering we just played a guy that was playing really well. He's in a zone.
So we've just got to continue to get pucks and bodies there, and try to find those fortunate bounces and hopefully continue to get pucks there.
RYAN McDONAGH: Obviously, we wanted to start off with some momentum here. Obviously being our home rink. Thought right away from the start we did a good job of getting our strength into the offensive zone, kind of got everybody into a flow.
We did a really good job of rolling all four lines, and three pairs allowed us to play fast and effective. Some good examples, but obviously things we need to look at, too. They got some good looks, obviously throughout the game, and for us, we need to continue to defend hard.
Q. What did you guys do so well against the defensive side?
RYAN McDONAGH: I think part of it was not overextending our shots. We were able to play strong and play fast because we were fresh rolling our lines. Made good decisions with the puck. Didn't turn it over too much, so that was a good sign. Talked about trying to make them play the whole length of the ice and not give them odd-man looks. I thought we did a pretty good job of that.
Q. How different is the style compared to the Capitals here?
RYAN McDONAGH: In focusing on us, we try to play the same way. Obviously, it's making good decisions with the puck and not turning it over. Being close with our support. Utilizing our speed because of that close support and trying to put a lot of pucks to the net, obviously, and take away his (Bishop) eyes. He's a big goalie, gonna see a lot, so we have to continue to make it hard on him.
Q. Was that a fast game?
RYAN McDONAGH: Yeah, pretty fast skating up and down. I think I said before, we did a good job not extending our shifts, not getting caught out there too long, so we were able to stay fresh throughout the whole game.
DOMINIC MOORE: Well, it was a good kill right before that, then we had that odd-man break. I thought I put the puck in Brass's (Brassard) hands, but I guess he wasn't expecting it. So just tried to stay with it after that shift, and when Hazy (Hayes) got it, I knew it was eventually going to get to the net, and good thing happened.
Q. Your celebration maybe spoke to a level of relief maybe as much as passion that that puck went in. Was there a little extra spring to your step when you got out of the box?
DOMINIC MOORE: I don't know about that. Maybe. I think it's just a matter of wanting to win. We had lots of looks, couple just before that. I drove it in front and puck rolled off my tape. Just tried to stay with it and work for a good bounce, and finally it came.
Q. Throughout your career you've had an uncanny knack of scoring goals like this at times like this and on a calendar time like this as well. Do you have any explanation why or is there something you could point to?
DOMINIC MOORE: I don't know. It's a fun time of year for us. Everyone in this room relishes playing in these games, and it's a good thing to enjoy it.
Q. Every playoff game has been decided by one goal. As long as you guys are winning, is it okay to keep winning by that margin?
DOMINIC MOORE: Well, you know, you don't plan on that, but it is a good thing when you know how to play those games. We've played them pretty well. That is the way the playoffs are, just the margins are small, and they're not for the faint of heart these games, for sure.
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: I think it helps us when we're in that position almost every night that you keep your focus on the right things, and that's what it comes down to. We all understand that every play matters throughout the game. We're that close every game. So all the board battles and making the right plays in our own end offensively, it all matters. So to keep your focus throughout the game is key.
I think we also have confidence in our group when it comes down to it because we believe in each other and the system that we have. It's always a good feeling to go into the third and just try to push yourself to get that win.
Q. Tampa's only goal came on the power play. What did you do so well defensively tonight and in five-on-five situations?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, obviously, we need to focus on their top players. They're moving the puck really well and they have a lot of speed. If you lose the puck in the wrong areas, you're going to see the speed even more. So I think we did a really good job of putting pucks in the right place, and that's when you really slowed them down a little bit.
But they also showed, especially on their power play, the skill they have and how they can move the puck. So it's something we have to remember going forward.
Q. What did you think of the team's performance overall coming off an emotional series?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Yeah, I think it's always a big concern when you play a Game 7 like that, overtime and everything on the line.
The good thing is we had two days. The day off, you know, you can reflect and process everything. Then yesterday you had a full day of just preparation and practice and meetings and really get your head in the right place. So I think that helped us being ready here.
There should not be any excuses. When you come out here, you have to be ready, and you have to know what to expect. I think we did a great job coming out in the first period and set the tone.
Q. When you look around the room and see who the young guys follow, has Dominic Moore always been one of those guys that has set the tone with his work ethic?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: I think so. I think the routines he has, the way he prepares, he's a true pro, I think. He had it early on. My rookie year was his rookie year. I'm all about preparation, and I can see him almost being like a goalie with everything he does and preparing himself to get into the right place going into every game. I think that's why he's been so consistent throughout his career, as well. He brings his game to a level that he's helping the team every night in face-offs and making great plays. And now he's getting more minutes and he deserves it the way he's playing right now.
Q. Star-wise and other-wise what did you see today from the Lightning compared to Washington?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, there are a lot of similarities. I think they have a couple guys with big shots. They have some playmakers that move the puck a lot side-to-side. Maybe Washington played a little bit more physical. But I think that's just going to increase for each game. You have to expect that as they get more and more physical. That's usually how it goes a lot of times when they play in these series. You can feel the game a little bit in the first period. It increased.
But we talked about speed going into this game, and I think the two teams that can play fast and move the puck well and create chances from there. So pretty much what we expect and we saw out there. So it was a fun game to play. I'm just happy the way we rebounded from the goal there. We took a couple penalties, put ourselves in a tough spot. We managed to keep our cool and came up with the big one in the end.
Q. You and A.V. have mentioned the system, the belief in the system, the belief in the players. How much have the results strengthened that belief? What is it about the system that allows you to thrive in these games?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, I think the system we have two years ago, it took us some time. I think everybody was used to a certain way of playing. It changed a lot the way we play in our own end. When we got that in the right place, you can't rely on skill every night. We have the skill. But there is no way we can win consistently if you're always going to rely on making great plays or rely on unbelievable efforts.
You have to be able to rely on your team game and your team concept on nights where not everything is working for you. I think the system we have really gives them an opportunity to play at our best. Our top players playing throughout the lineup, we play to our strength with the system that we have. Great skaters can move the puck, and the system really allows us to play that way, so I think it's a good fit.
Q. You just finished a series where you were continually chasing the other team from behind, both in the games and in the series. How nice is it to have an advantage early other here?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, it's just one game. But you always look to get a good start and build something. But you can't think too much about it. You just have to come back tomorrow, get a good practice and get ready for the next one. But it's always a good feeling to start at home with a good feeling and build some confidence because you start over.
Whatever happened last year, was amazing the way it ended, but you just put it behind you and you start over. This was the first good step for us.
Q. Just seeing Callahan and Stralman out there, what was the emotion to see those guys?
HENRIK LUNDQVIST: Well, obviously you've been thinking about them during the regular season when you play them. That was more emotional.
Now the only thing I see is them being in our way making it to the next round. So you don't want to think too much about it that you played with them for a long time and you're good friends. You're past it now. It's such an important time of the year that when the game starts, I'm just focusing on what I need to do. Obviously, they played a huge part in this team when they were here. But, again, we played them three times through the regular season, so you kind of went through that back then and now it's a different story.
I think we're all very focused on playing every guy really hard out there, even the guys we knew for a long time back here.
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