The Carolina Hurricanes won their afternoon matinee, defeating the New Jersey Devils 4-2 Saturday at the Prudential Center.
Evgeny Kuznetsov made his Hurricanes debut while Martin Necas, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Andrei Svechnikov and Teuvo Teravainen scored for Carolina.
Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 23 of 25 in the win.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Kuznetsov and Kotkaniemi spoke with the media in New Jersey. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game: I thought we played a pretty good first half of the game and then it kind of went out the window after that whole goalie challenge thing. We had a miscommunication with the officials too, so there was just a bunch of stuff that went wrong there and then I thought we got off our game a little. Not a whole bunch, like not where it would have cost us the game, but we definitely were kind of hanging on there for a little bit.
On the challenge: [It would have been a 4-on-3] is what I was told. I would have never challenged it if I thought it was going to turn it into a 5-on-4. A 5-on-3 or a 4-on-3, I'm good with. And I thought it was going to be a good goal. I'm looking at it and I don't see any contact, maybe in the corner, but then it comes out and he dances around and the goalie's clearly outside the paint and it had no impact, the puck blew right past the goalie. Those are frustrating ones, but it was a miscommunication because he told me it will go to a 4-on-3 if we lost the challenge. So I thought, well then, I got nothing to lose. But then it turned into that? That's absolutely wrong.
On the team's defense: I thought we were okay. Obviously you have a dynamic team over there with so much talent, so I guess when you're shutting that team down, it's pretty impressive. I just thought we had a bunch of almosts. Like they hit some posts in there and there were a bunch of things tonight that could have made it go the other way. But at the end of the day, I thought for the most part of that game, we hunkered down pretty well.
On Evgeny Kuznetsov: For a guy that hasn't played, he made some real nice plays tonight, especially early. There were a couple of backdoor tap-ins we just missed off of his plays and he even missed a backdoor tap-in too. For a guy that hasn't played in a long time, he definitely was impactful.
On his ice time: I didn't want to overdo it. He looked like he could have played more, for sure, but you have to be careful with that because he's probably running on adrenaline here a little bit trying to impress his new club. We have a lot of games coming up.
On having any surprise that Kuznetsov looked as good as he did: I am, but talented players just know how to play. They just get it. So you can stick him into any system, and he doesn't know anything about what we're doing, but he just knows how to play. Hopefully he can continue that.
On Jesperi Kotkaniemi's ridiculous angle goal: That's a gift, right? I thought we gave them a gift too on the first goal. We had the puck with nobody on us and we whiff on it and give it to a great player. Just like, 'Here you go!' So they kind of gave one back too.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: He made his saves. He kept us in there. I thought the real difference in the game was the penalty kill. I thought there was a chance there where we went 4-on-3 for a minute and a half and I don't know that they got a real good look. When they did, Kochetkov made some real good saves. That was probably the game.
Evgeny Kuznetsov
On his first game: I haven't skated for 50 days or something like that, so skated a couple of times, but I don't think in this situation I need any motivation. There was a lot of energy and a lot of motivation and the legs were there, the head was there, now just need to combine them together because I've been off the hockey for a little while. Felt very comfortable with the team. The guys are supportive and the coaching staff and everything was good. So I'm very pumped about the home game tomorrow. I'll finally get to know what it's like to be on the other side of the Hell.
On if he was surprised with his performance: It was the plan with the coaches. The way the game goes, you feel the game. I'm just so grateful to be here. I don't take anything for granted anymore. 10 days ago, I was in a different spot. I was home and then on waivers, then Hershey, then bus, then no practice, then had to fly yesterday, got practice, fly here, no reservation at the restaurant so I got some type of meal early game. Just have to believe. For those people struggling outside with motivation or whatever it is, just accept the reality, work hard and just believe. You gotta believe and you just gotta find motivation in your life and do for your closest ones and things will get better.
On what he's learned about his new team so far: A lot of young guys, which is exciting. I feel like they all compete hard and at the same time, they do have skill. They combine that and my job is just to fill in and do whatever is best for the team. In this situation, I don't want to fuck up anything. I don't want to make things worse. Just keep pushing and pushing every day and like I said, not take anything for granted.
On the past couple of days: I've been on the run. I haven't had the opportunity to even sit down and talk with my wife fully and tell her the story and all that stuff. Just trying to focus day-by-day. Like I said, this was just fantastic for me. Playing hockey is huge and unfortunately I had to get traded and stuff like that, but it's all for a good cause, but I'm happy here and I'm going to do what's best for the team.
On his role: I don't want to make them worse. I want to try and fill in and understand. Of course I want to help the team win and I feel like the way I understand it from the coaching staff is that they want me to be me. They don't want me to be a plumber out there, they want me to be me. To create and make those passes and it's kind of nice to hear that, so I have to understand that there is a right moment in a game, so I don't make too many passes.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
On the win: It was nice to get one. A big win for the boys. Got to be on the same line as [Kuznetsov], so pretty special to get a couple of shifts with a guy like that.
On the team's defensive game: That's what we try to lean on every night. Just try to get a couple goals on the PP and if they give us a chance, we'll take it, but defense is our thing. We just try to be tight in our own end and that's been key for the wins lately.
On winning early in the day: It's the first one of a back-to-back, so it's nice to get one on the road and head home. We'll actually get back at a good time and get a little rest to be ready to go tomorrow.
On Kuznetsov: He was great. I think me and [Fast] just tried to get open when he had the puck. You know he's a great passer and he sees the ice way better than anyone else out there. Just tried to be ready. He looked like he didn't miss a beat out there. It was good.
On something he's learned about Kuznetsov: I knew he was a great player with hat passing skill, but I didn't know it was that good. I just felt he created stuff our of nowhere. That was awesome.
On Kochetkov: [Kochetkov]'s always an aggressive goalie. Crazy Russian boy, but no, he does a great job. Just a really confident, young guy. It's great to see him this year taking a big step forward.