We have to get better at that. All of the Stanley Cup winning teams throughout the past few seasons, when they needed to play defense, they did it. If you can play defense, that's when you know it's game over.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
It's always great when a defense is able to create turnovers and score. That's something we missed last year. We'd get some turnovers, but we never scored points.
You have to play defense, that's how you win.
Defense is a definite part of the game, and a great part of defense is learning to play it without fouling.
Big plays are such a huge factor in the outcome of games. It is so difficult to go the distance on a defense.
The deeper you get into the playoffs, obviously the better the opponent is. Which means they'll be better defensively, they'll rebound better, they don't turn the ball over.
I think to compare any time you win a Stanley Cup would be unfair to all the players from all the teams.
For good reasons, there are no ties during the Stanley Cup season. Somebody needs to win so the lads can get out to their cottages on the lakes, where all hockey players spend their summers, or so I have been told.
This is a physical game, and that's how you have to play. When you do that, the defense eventually gets tired of tackling you.
I don't say we are a defensive team. I say we are a strong team in defensive terms, but at the same time lacking sufficient fluidity in attack because that will take time to come.
You do not play hockey for good seasons. You play to win the Stanley Cup. It has to be the objective.