They really came at us there for the first few minutes, but we managed to get through them. After we got used to the game… Obviously, the squad over there is good; they play and compete at a very high level. It expects more from the team.
That was something we discussed before the game. Discourse on the subject is one thing. To step onto the ice and navigate it is a different matter entirely.
We really started to come on after we got used to it. We got pretty good at skating. This squad makes it difficult to get to their net—possibly more so than any other in the league. To reach that place, we had to be genuinely dedicated to it.
We did a really excellent job, in my opinion. Each and every line performed incredibly well. Our defense played a part. We were able to really get the game going by getting to their net and pressuring their goalie.
Regarding how the middle-six forward lines have performed since John Tavares and William Nylander were split up:
It’s been fantastic. Today, it seemed as though our depth might actually play a role. Up front, [The Golden Knights] lack personnel. Four forwards were absent for them. It knocks them considerably out of their element. You got a strong sense that our players would have a decent chance to have a significant impact on the game tonight if they could get rolling. That’s how things transpired.
It is extremely beneficial for our team that those individuals were able to contribute in different ways during a game like this against that squad, and that the Kampf line was able to play as well as they did.
Regarding Max Domi’s performance since he joined Nylander’s line:
He’s been excellent. He has been employed.
He gets fantastic goals for us today, but he also does a terrific job tracking, checking defensively coming back, getting back above the puck, and using his speed and toughness to close situations defensively.
That will enable him to keep contributing in a circumstance like that. He can play against any player in the league when he is skating and competing at that level. We can observe his attacking potential, whether it is by playing smart and creating opportunities for others or through scoring goals like he has done tonight.
Regarding Morgan Rielly’s return to action:
I felt he was excellent. I think his skating was excellent. He only looked quickly, though it could have been because we hadn’t had him. He was flying up and down the rink and through the middle of the ice. We were able to participate and support the attack as well as push out on breakouts with its great assistance.
It’s wonderful to have him and to see him succeed as well.
Regarding if this is the best the team has played all season:
That seems reasonable to me, especially considering the constancy. We’ve been discussing how consistency makes a difference. Throughout the season, we have played good hockey, but we haven’t had a run like this. That is what has made a huge difference.
The boys haven’t let the loss of Morgan or the ailments and injuries we have been battling with stop us from responding as they have. One game at a time, they have simply been expanding their repertoire.
It would need more than what we had been doing in the past games to win this one. We needed to improve. I believed that we were. It was excellent.
Although I disliked their early goals in the second and third halves, they did manage to somewhat up the ante on us in the game. We were able to react and resume the game, which was fiercely competitive and full of pushes. We must spend as much time as possible in these circumstances.
Even though it’s tempting to relax and cruise along, I was incredibly happy that they pushed us back and we had to endure it without breaking before pushing back on ourselves on a back-to-back basis with a team that has been doing well.
