The Carolina Hurricanes pulled off a comeback victory to steal Game 1 on the road in their second round series against the Washington Capitals Tuesday night at Capital One Arena.
Jaccob Slavin scored the overtime winner, less than five minutes into the extra frame and Frederik Andersen made 13 saves in the win.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour, along with Slavin, Logan Stankoven, Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Andersen spoke with the media in DC. Here's what they had to say:
Jaccob Slavin Calls Game, Hurricanes Steal Series Opener
The second C stands for 'Clutch.'
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game: I thought our guys played hard every shift right from the start of the game. I liked how we were playing. Obviously we were down, but there's a certain game plan. Both teams have it and I thought we were on it tonight. Sometimes you don't get rewarded, but tonight we did.
On Jaccob Slavin's shot selection on the game-winning goal: He's open, so he's not going to not shoot it. That's kind of the thought behind it. We got some traffic. I don't know how many shot blocks they had, but they had a lot of blocks tonight. That's why they're a good team or one of the best because they are willing to do that. You have to know that going in and you have to also not be deterred by that. Just have to keep putting it there because they're not giving you much of anything else. Obviously wasn't the greatest of goals, but they all count.
On the messaging from the bench to motivate the team to stick with the plan: Not much. It'd a little different if they had been up by a couple, but when the game's still just one shot away, it makes it a little easier to stick with the process. We were at least able to keep it the one, so you knew you were still in the game. Just had to stick with it and we were able to get the one turnover and a nice goal by Stanks and now we're just continuing to stick with what we're doing and trying to find the next one.
On Frederik Andersen staying locked in despite a low shot against count: That's tough. It seems easy, but when you're not in the flow, you watch the other guy at the other end and you could tell he was dialed in. Freddie had the one breakaway there and I don't know if he got credit for a save, but you could at least tell he was on it. So that was a huge one for us. But he knows it. He's been here long enough to know that you have to stay focused and I thought he did a good job.
On Mark Jankowski's status: I don't have an update on that. Obviously he just didn't feel great. I don't think it's too serious, but obviously it was enough that he couldn't play. Probably will have more of an update tomorrow. Both teams are deep though and I think, at this time of year, you have to rely on everybody, so that put us in a bit of a hole. So I'm glad the game didn't go too much longer.
Jaccob Slavin
On his game-winner: Puck came up to me at the point there and I was just trying to get it to the net. I knew we had some numbers at the net and I didn't know it went in until I saw Jordan Staal coming with his arms up, yelling at me. It's a huge win for the team.
On the team's shot volume: We played well. We were all over it and we knew we just had to throw everything at the net. I think that mentality paid off there at the end.
On the importance of a Game 1 road win: It's huge. Anytime you can get a win in a series, whether it's home or on the road, it's always a boost of confidence. I think especially to get that first one and it being on the road is huge for us and our momentum going forward. Like Roddy always talks about, it's one step of the series. Just keep chugging along.
On Logan Stankoven's fit in Carolina: He comes in with the right mentality, works really, really hard, is obviously a good skater and I think that's also huge for us. Our forwards, all of them, are good skaters and that's a big part of our game. Getting in on the forecheck and having them just hound pucks and be hard to play against, be on top of guys. So with his skating abilities, it's just an easy transition into our game, but then also just his hockey sense obviously. Like his goal that you saw. He's practicing his shot every day after practice and so practice paid off for him tonight. He just has that mentality to continue to work hard.
Logan Stankoven
On sticking with the game plan: It's just about trust. That's what our game is all about. Getting inside and lots of shot volume. That's what Rod preaches. Sometimes not everything is going to go in, so you have to be patient and it worked out well for us tonight.
On his goal: I think it was just a great play by KK there to get the puck to me. Their defenseman kind of was taking away the pass to Hallsy so I just thought I would rip it and it was nice to see it go in.
On Frederik Andersen: He's huge for us. If they get a second one, the game is a whole different story maybe. We're trying at the other end to create offense and when we do give up chances or there are breakdowns, he's there for us. He's been great all playoffs for us so we're going to need him to keep playing like that.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi
On being able to actually see this overtime winner: I actually liked seeing the bench's reaction. No one had any idea what was going on. Just saw the ref going like this [pointing motion] behind the net and then we started celebrating. A good goal.
On the team's game: It looked like us. We had a lot of chances there. Just a lot of saves by their goalie and they were blocking a lot of shots. Just stuck with it and got one through and that really got us in it, the whole team right away. Then the start of overtime was good.
On what he saw on Stankoven's goal: I think it bounced off the D-man's skate, if I'm not wrong. Then it was kind of an easy pass to Stankoven and then a hell of a shot. Like I said, a big goal for us.
On having Frederik Andersen back in net: It's great. He's been great all year and especially in the playoffs. He's so calm when he's out there and he's just a guy you can rely on every night. It's been good.
On staying patient: We're just big believers in that it's going to turn eventually. Just keep doing our thing and getting shots through and one of them is going to go through and go in the net like we saw tonight. We need those bounces, especially at this time.
On sticking with the plan: Our plan never changes. Just keep working hard, sending pucks out there and just keep believing.
Frederik Andersen
On the game: Obviously you had to work for your space out there. I think the guys did a really good job of just staying with the game we like to play and just trusting in that. Obviously a little bit of a fluky goal maybe, but got some traffic in front and obviously we'll take it. I thought we created a lot more and some good scoring chances. We couldn't capitalize until the end, but just kudos to the guys for sticking with it.
On being perhaps the only one happy about a week of rest between series: Maybe so. You'll take what you can get when you have it here. Obviously we were looking forward to this for a while. Happy to start off on the right foot.
On the mood after two periods: We were pretty happy with [our game]. We don't want to not score obviously, but we just wanted to stick with it. We've been in these types of games before where we seem to have some good chances, but they don't come until late. We put the effort in and cashed in later in the game. Just hoping that the bounce will come eventually.
On being back after missing a game and a half last series: Obviously it sucks to sit out anytime, but especially in the playoffs when you have a chance to clinch at home. That sucks to watch from up top, but the guys did a good job of battling back in that game. Now we've taken the first step here.
On his game: Felt good. Just trying to take what comes my way and being in that moment of overtime and stay with it. Like I said many times, you don't know when that next big save is going to happen, you just have to try to make it.
On if the way the team played tonight makes his job easier: Of course. You like what you're seeing up front with everyone going to battle and getting to our game. I think that's always a good sign. Try, again, to limit what we give up and put it on them to make mistakes when they try to break out and all that. Obviously happy that we were able to tie it up and get the win.
On his mindset in overtime: Pretty much like any other time. Just try to get ready to make that first save and whatever comes my way. Try to react and take it from there.
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