NHL Peachy: 2015 Stanley Cup Final Off-Day Transcripts - (TBL - Stamkos, Brown, Filppula, Coburn, Palat, Coach Cooper) Our Coverage Sponsored by Vermont Harvest
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An interview with:
COACH JON COOPER
BRAYDON COBURN
J.T. BROWN
VALTTERI FILPPULA
STEVEN STAMKOS
ONDREJ PALAT
THE MODERATOR: Questions for J.T., Steven and Valtteri.
Q. Steven, you guys obviously are better at home than on the road. During the playoffs, you've had success on the road. Can you explain?
STEVEN STAMKOS: I think that was the main focus for us starting this series, starting with the same mentality we have at home, like you just mentioned.
For whatever reason, whether it's distractions, trying to play a solid road game, I know it gets talked about a lot throughout the season. For whatever reason, we've been able to do that. I think we've done that the last couple games at home, as well.
I think you're satisfied with a tight game on the road than you are at home. Especially in the playoffs, we found a way to keep it tight. Whether it was 0-0, 1-1 in the third, we've found the confidence in our group to find a way to get it done. It's worked out so far.
Q. J.T., it seemed like the coach challenged you guys to get more production out of different lines. Seemed like your line was flying for most of the night last night.
J.T. BROWN: At all times we want to chip in. We don't want to have too much on the top six forwards.
First and foremost, we need to keep the puck out of our net. I think that was still our first focus.
Q. Valtteri, Steven last night talked about the incredible pace of the game. It was a lot of fun for fans to watch. A lot of us look at the Finals you played with Detroit against Pittsburgh. Can you draw a parallel with the potential of this series to what you experienced back then?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: I mean, yeah, I think it was really, really quick. A lot of back and forth. I felt that was kind of the same way that series was back in '08 and '09 as well.
I think the first game wasn't as physical as the second game was. Obviously we haven't played them that much in the regular season. First couple games, you kind of get used to a team as well.
So I think it's going to be the same way going forward.
Q. Steven, in terms of the series record, you went into Game 2 saying it wasn't a must-win. In terms of confidence and momentum going into that game, was it a must-win for this team?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Again, I said it a bunch of times. It's never a must-win until your backs are completely against the wall.
It's the same all playoffs. We've come into every game wanting to win. We knew if we got in an 0-2 hole, it was going to be tough, especially with a team with this much experience.
Like I said after Game 1, there was a lot of positives out of that game. It was a tough loss, tough to swallow, especially being up a goal in the third.
We found ourselves in that same position. We didn't waiver this time. We stuck with it. I know they tied it, but there's no panic with this group. That was a big win for us to get our feet wet a little bit in this series, obviously make it a series heading into a tough rink to play in.
We've had confidence in our ability to bounce back all along.
Q. Valtteri, how has this experience been for you in the Final? How is it different? Are you enjoying it in a different way?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: Yeah, I think you always enjoy when you get to the Final. Luckily for me first three years, first year in Conference Final, then two times in Final in a row. You're thinking, Okay, this is going to be fun, you get to play all the time.
Obviously that's not the case.
It's great to be back. I feel we have a good team, we've been playing well. So it's been a lot of fun.
Q. Valtteri, as the only Lightning player with a Stanley Cup victory, why do you think your team has had success despite that relative inexperience?
VALTTERI FILPPULA: I think we've had two really good regular seasons now. Last year we obviously made it to playoffs, but it didn't go as we wanted it to. I feel like our team's been playing more mature than we necessarily have.
To be honest, it's tough to say. I feel like we have a young group, but we've been playing better than you would maybe think. Hopefully we can keep going a couple few more games.
Q. Steven, you guys are undefeated when you're angry. What is it about this team? Is there a way to be able to produce those emotions on a consistent basis even though you don't play a bad game?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Well, I think these last couple games, you're finally seeing - you can go back to Game 7 against the Rangers. That's three pretty consistent efforts in a row. That was something that we were struggling with coming off a big win, having a letdown, having that letdown, coming out with a great effort. For whatever reason, that was the trend we were on. We responded every time we've been in that situation.
But I said it after Game 1. It was a different kind of loss in Game 1 of this Finals than it had been previous series where we lost 5-2, 6-2, 7-3. This is a game we felt we had and we let it slip through our fingers. We played well.
This is a new response from our team to come out and play as well as we did in Game 1, just finish the job this time. We did that. Hopefully that can be proof to our team that we can continue to play consistently and find ways to win.
I think that's three in a row where we've played in the right way, and for the most part we've seen the results.
Q. Steven, how do you feel about the way you've played so far in this series? How would you describe the amount of attention they're paying to you compared to what you received before?
STEVEN STAMKOS: We haven't found a way, myself personally, to get on the board yet. At this time of the year, it's about the wins. We've said that all along. This has been a group that's relied on our depth the entire season. We've seen it in the playoffs.
Our line in general has had some really good looks. Just haven't gone in. We found a way to get one in the first game. But when certain guys aren't producing, it doesn't mean they're not playing well. The pucks just aren't going in. Other guys step up. That's why we've been so successful.
Obviously it's a challenge. Usually you're against one of the top four on the other side. Those guys play a ton. They're very good players. It's a challenge every time. But we've done a good job of trying to take away their time and space as well with their top guys.
I think both teams have some very skilled players that the other team is paying close attention to. That's when you get into secondary scoring. You saw it in Game 1 for them. You saw it in Game 2 for us. That might be a trend going forward.
Q. Steven, we're not 100% sure who your starting goalie is tomorrow night. A, do you know? B, if it is Vasilevskiy, how do you stay confident with a guy who is a rookie going in for his first start in a Stanley Cup Final?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Yeah, we're not sure. If we were, probably wouldn't tell you anyways (laughter).
About it is Vasi, we have full confidence in him. I know a lot of us talked about it last night after the game.
I think it's helped him that he's been thrown in the fire a little bit in the playoffs. We've been in some tough games where we've left Bish out to dry, giving him a rest, he's come in. He's been in different situations. He had a couple goals scored on him early, didn't rattle him. Like last game, came in, played well, made some saves.
He's a young kid. Let's not forget, he played in the KHL for a couple years. That's pro experience for him. He showed that since he came over here. Ever since he came over here, he works extremely hard in practice. He's ready.
He's a guy that's probably the most prepared out of everybody. He's at the rink six to eight hours a day preparing. He's waiting for his chance. Whether that's tomorrow or not, he'll be ready.
Q. Steven, you said you were following it on the PA saying who was in, who was out. Was there anything said on the bench to get your focus back or did it happen naturally?
STEVEN STAMKOS: You know what, not much. When he went in, we wanted to make sure we finished the game for him, and obviously for Bish. But we wanted to just play solid in front of Vasi. Took a penalty there. He made some big saves. That one time on Richards was a very big chance.
Like I said, no matter what the situation, he seemed to have confidence. I think there's a correlation with how hard he works in practice and prepares himself. When he gets thrown in these situations, he's ready.
Not much needed to be said from our standpoint on the bench. We wanted to go out and finish the game hard. They flip-flop a couple times in net, we're not sure what's going on. We found a way. He made some key saves for us.
Q. Steven, tomorrow the top prospects will be here for the game. What are your memories from your day, what you say to those guys?
STEVEN STAMKOS: Yeah, that was a great experience for me. I actually got to watch Fil play.
I think it was the first Cup Final you were in.
We had a chance to go down to Detroit and catch the game against Pittsburgh, meet a couple guys. Got to go in the room.
That was pretty exciting. That was for me really your first taste of seeing these guys up close, watching the game, getting to meet some guys.
We've already had a couple discussions, looking forward to meeting those guys. I know Connor a little bit from training in the summer, skating with him. But this is what those guys dream of, as well. I remember being in Detroit watching there, hoping I could be on this stage someday. Here we are, so it's pretty special.
Q. J.T., Jonathan Toews said today he was surprised that the matchup has been your line so far against his, although he's been impressed by the work you guys have done. How much have you enjoyed that matchup, which has been successful so far for you guys?
J.T. BROWN: Yeah, I mean, even for us, not necessarily knowing who we're going to go against. Whoever it is, it's our job to shut them down. For the most part we've been doing it all right. The best way to shut them down is to try to play offense. They're a skilled group over there. If they're playing in our D zone, they're going to get their chances. The best chance to stop them is to be in the offensive zone for them.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks, guys.
Questions, please.
Q. Braydon, you've been in a lot of playoff series. Does home ice advantage mean as much during the playoffs as it does during the regular season?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think when it really comes into factor is when you get into that Game 7, you can play at home, that seems to be comfortable.
I think we went into New York and won that one in Game 7, too.
It's tough to say. Sometimes it is, sometimes it's not. Just depends on your opposition and how you're playing at home.
Q. Braydon, what is the challenge like when Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane have been together? When they're split apart, what is it like to try to stop them when they're separate?
BRAYDON COBURN: They're two very talented players. You got to make sure you're playing them tight, not giving them a lot of room to make plays and be creative.
They're tough players to play against. You have to have the mindset you're playing against good players. Doesn't change whether they're together or whether they're apart. The Chicago team's got a lot of deep talent in the forward line.
You know, there's challenges whoever you're facing out there.
Q. Braydon, in a situation like you faced yesterday with an inexperienced goalie coming in virtually cold in a tight game, do you have time to be conscious about that or everything just keeps going the way it was?
BRAYDON COBURN: Well, I think you want to give him as much support as you can. You want to be sure you're playing smart. Obviously that time of the game, you're trying to play as smart as you can anyway.
You know, personal experience and knowing Vasi, just the way he prepares, kind of the way he handles himself, I was pretty confident he was going to be ready when he was called upon when he went in.
Q. Ondrej, Stamkos mentioned how much of a faster pace Game 2 was than Game 1. Why do you think there was so much change?
ONDREJ PALAT: I don't know. I thought the first game we play, we play well the first two periods. The second game, we did that for 60 minutes. I felt in the second period, it open up a little bit. They had some chances. We had, too.
I don't know. I thought it was good hockey for the fans. I don't know, it was just good.
Q. Braydon, after a game like that last night, looked like a track meet, fun to watch, can you sit back and appreciate it for what it is or are you happy to get the win and move on?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think right after the game, you're happy to get the win obviously. I think a few guys noted that the game was fast. There was a lot of up-and-down action. Everything happened quick out there as opposed to some other series and some other games.
I thought that might have been one of the fastest ones we played so far in the playoffs. Both teams back and forth. Guys making plays quickly with the puck, just the pace up and down the ice.
Q. Steven said he wasn't sure what the goaltending situation was going to be tomorrow. Does that change, preparation-wise, anything for you guys in terms of what you want to do as you look ahead to a Game 3?
BRAYDON COBURN: As long as they don't need me to back up or anything like that, doesn't change anything for me. I just focus on my game and getting ready for tomorrow.
ONDREJ PALAT: I think we're confident in both goalies, if it's Vasi or Bish. Highly skilled both. Doesn't change anything.
Q. Braydon, with the inexperience or the youth on this team, are you surprised at the way this team has been able to adjust throughout going into Stanley Cup Finals? Seems like no matter what style of game it was, this team can play any style of game?
BRAYDON COBURN: That kind of goes into the depth of the team. This team can play a lot of different ways. I think we've had a lot of success through the regular season and through the playoffs so far.
But, you know, I think there's a lot of guys, like Paly and Johnny, a handful of guys that had success at the American League level as well. They're able to rely on some of that playoff experience.
There's a few guys that went all the way just last year, the Rangers guys that were there went to the Finals. Obviously Mo has got the Cup, Val has the Cup. Probably forgetting somebody else.
We have some young guys, but they've had success at different levels as well.
Q. You made a joke about being a backup goalie. Have you ever been a goalie?
BRAYDON COBURN: No. That's solely a joke (laughter).
Q. Ondrej, with your line breaking through with a couple goals last night, Chicago getting the last change at home, do you expect a tougher defensive assignment?
ONDREJ PALAT: I don't know. Not really. I thought we play against Keith and Hjalmarsson most of the time. I don't know. I don't expect it's going to change, yeah.
Q. Braydon, preparation might not change depending on the goalie. Obviously Bishop likes to play the puck a lot. I don't know how much Vasi does. How much does that change in a game?
BRAYDON COBURN: I think both of them are very good puck handlers. Probably Bish has got a little more experience doing it.
But I don't know how much it would change. You still have your routes, your reads, what you're going to do. It's a tough question to answer just because I'm not too sure, you know, there would be too much change just because of the way we break out and kind of the structure of our defensive breakouts.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, guys.
Questions for coach.
Q. Jon, status of your goalie, Ben Bishop?
COACH COOPER: Well, in honor of the 11-year anniversary of our organization's first Stanley Cup, how would John Tortorella answer that question?
Q. Is he available tomorrow night?
COACH COOPER: I'll just leave it at that (laughter).
Q. Brad Richards was saying the other day that one thing that really distinguishes the triplets line is they're willing to try to do things that might scare other young players. Why is that?
COACH COOPER: Actually, I haven't really I guess thought of it that way. That's a really good player, skilled player, as Brad Richards thinking the same way they think.
They're willing to play the game uncomfortable, if you know what I mean. They go outside of probably what's the norm. The one thing that really makes them work, though, is they all have extremely high hockey IQs and can play the game at a really fast pace.
Ultimately if you want to have that kind of success, you have to compete. All three of them do that. They're not afraid to go to any area on the ice.
Richie is right, they're willing to do that. The other thing, too, is all three of them really get along with each other off the ice. I think that chemistry and friendship helps them, too.
Q. Do you know who is going to play in net for you tomorrow?
COACH COOPER: No, I don't, which would tell you, if I don't know, that Bish could be available. You'll have a better indication, I guess, tomorrow at the skate. Although our morning skates are all optional anyway. Bish, notoriously he goes on sometimes during them and sometimes he doesn't. I'm sure you'll get a clue then tomorrow.
Q. In a world where the way the game is looked at is changing dramatically, do you avail yourself of the advanced metrics that are available for hockey analytics?
COACH COOPER: I think information is good. I think you're naïve not to take in everything around you. If statistics is part of that, I want to see it. I want to have it at our disposal.
How much we use or how much it changes your thinking, I can't sit here and say, well, I'm 100% analytics says yes, so that's our direction. The one thing that analytics does not take into account is the human mind, the human spirit and the human soul. So I think that comes into play. If there's one combatant to analytics, that's it.
Mostly, I want the information, and we use it.
Q. Patrick Roy said earlier this year in trying to build his team into a contender, he doesn't just want to be a good team, he wants to play a style that's pleasing for his fans to watch. Your team would fit that description. What is your true organic philosophy on the way you think the game should be played even at this time of year, whether you can appreciate how entertaining last night was for everyone?
COACH COOPER: Yeah, I'll be honest, I don't know how somebody could leave that rink last night and not be an instant hockey fan if that was your first game.
To me, it's a speed sport. These guys are phenomenal athletes. Ultimately I coach games to win games. I guess there's different ways to do that. But we believe these guys have these abilities, why not take advantage of them?
I'm a big believer in literally playing the whole game skating forwards. I think you can do that.
I think your best defense is having the puck. So if you can have it as much as you can, it's really tough for the other team to score.
The entertainment value, I know we are in the entertainment business a little bit, but I don't really put any stock in that. I think we're in the winning business. Ultimately any fan will tell you, I think winning's the greatest entertainment.
If you look outside our building, inside our building, there's two teams left standing, we're one of them, you can't get a seat inside or outside. I think for the fans, the fact that you're winning, it's pretty entertaining.
But you've watched us enough. You've seen the way our team plays. It's how we play.
Q. You have been, on the road during the playoffs, better than the regular season. Any explanation for that?
COACH COOPER: Actually, to be honest, it's different because in the regular season, you're going on five?game road trips, you're in five different cities, different time zones, you're playing back?to?backs. Playing on the road in the NHL really doesn't work in your favor a whole ton.
I think when you look at our home record, I'm not making light of anything, but teams usually come down to Florida, and they've been potentially somewhere where it's been 20 below. They get four days in Florida, they play us and the Panthers. I think one of us should take advantage of the team at some point in there.
So we're kind of a destination city because you have to come down and play us both. So I think that works in your favor.
But on the road, it's different. Especially where we are geographically, we're going on long trips all the time.
The one thing that I know going to the playoffs, there was so much talk about how bad we were on the road, I think it changed our focus.
Conversely, there was so much talk about how good we are at home, we just took that for granted. We wanted to put a show on at home. It didn't work out for us.
I truly believe, if it makes any sense at all, that our poor record during the regular season kind of united our focus. I think that's why we play better on the road.
The other thing, too, is you get breaks. The rest, all that, helps out, too.
Q. Referencing that style of play question a little bit, all through the series, no matter which one it is, going into the Stanley Cup Final, but Game 1 and Game 2, the difference between the two styles, can you talk about your team's ability to adapt to no matter what the game seems to be playing out as?
COACH COOPER: Well, I think that's what's great about our group. I think for a lot of these players growing up in their life, I'm not so sure defense came first in their repertoire of playing, which to me, I don't care. For a coach, it's much easier to make an offensive-gifted player learn how to play D than it is to make a defensive-minded player score goals.
I think playing defense is a choice to me. You got to make the choice, do you want to do it or not. Everybody from our captain down to our goaltender, they make a choice to play D.
Now, do we do it every single night? Do we get caught up in games where it's run-and-gun, we get caught up in that? There's no question. A lot of that, you know, it's human nature, the way we like to attack, the way we like to play.
Are we the perfect team? No, we're not. I think we're a fun team. I think we're a committed team. I think we play as a group. When the game is on the line and those guys got to buckle down, they know how to do it.
I think that's, I guess, the way we've adapted. When it's time to go win a hockey game, these guys find a way to do it. That's what's been great about them.
Q. I know you know Joel very well, have a relationship with him. He was one of your mentors, you said. Have you cut off communication as Marty and Stammer did in the last round?
COACH COOPER: Well, we spoke actually - as I said, when they advanced to the Final, we spoke right after that. We've spoken a couple times.
I think just because you're in the Final together, it doesn't stop you from becoming friends. We're in a different position because we coach our teams, but it's 20 players going against 20 players. They're the ones battling it out. We're just the two guys that have prepared our teams.
Have I cut communication off with him? No, we don't speak on a daily basis in this time. But if I walked by him on the street, I would make a point of going over to say hi to him, there's no question.
Q. If Vasi does play tomorrow, he's played well in some tough buildings. What about him makes him able to step up to the challenge?
COACH COOPER: Well, the game that sticks out for me, we ended up losing that game. But when we were on the Island, we were fifth game in ten nights, it was a tough trip for us. I think Vasi kicked out 40-plus. We didn't have the puck the whole night. We had a 1-0 lead sometime in the third. I don't remember exactly. We ended up losing the game 2-1, but we should have lost 10-1.
The building was rocking. It was just a crazy atmosphere. He was unreal. He just played with this unreal calm about himself. That's kind of when I knew we had something in this kid. Other games, usually he's come in in tough situations sometimes. He's had to battle his way through. Even in the playoffs, we've put him in in tough situations.
He's played under some bright lights. He's World Junior, KHL. These guys are with him more than I am. I'll tell you, I don't know if we have a more prepared player in our locker room than that kid. He's ready to go in at any moment. You got to love that in him.
So if Bish can't go tomorrow, is that a blow to us? Sure it is. But do we think the series is lost because Vasilevskiy is going in? Not a chance.
I don't know. I look at our tandem, I'd like to stack them up against any tandem in the league because I think we've got, you know, 1 and 1A.
Q. When it comes to defending against Toews and Kane, together or apart, how much is it being hyper aware where they are?
COACH COOPER: You have to be aware of that at all times. They're two outstanding players. We've got some good players on our team, as well. We didn't get here, you know, by not being able to play.
We have a lot of confidence in the Stralmans, Hedmans, Garrys, down the list, that those guys can make it hard on players.
I know that a lot has been made of the last couple games of Paquette's line, how they've neutralized Toews' line a little bit for two games. If Toews' line has to go against Fil's line or Johnny's line, we're comfortable with that.
That's one of the assets of our team, if one line gets caught out there with somebody, there's not any stress on our bench. It's not as if Brian Boyle hasn't faced top centers in his career. He's gone against these guys. That's what is good about our group, we have that balance.
To answer your question, of course we're aware when they're on the ice. They're dangerous players. We respect them immensely. But we don't fear 'em.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
COACH COOPER: Thank you.
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