Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho, Frederik Andersen and Rod Brind'Amour on Game 6 Loss and Series End: 'Frustrating, upsetting, all of the negative things that you can think of for that ending'
The Carolina Hurricanes' season came to a close Thursday night after a third period collapse saw them lose 5-3 to the New York Rangers in Game 6.
Despite leading 3-1 heading into the third period thanks to goals by Martin Necas, Seth Jarvis and Sebastian Aho, the Canes were then unable to stop the Rangers' push giving up three straight goals to Chris Kreider before the eventual empty netter sealed the game.
Following the loss, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Jordan Staal, Sebastian Aho and Frederik Andersen spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On if he felt like the team lost control of the game: We started out really good and then obviously [the second] goal was a tough one. Just can't happen. We know that. You can't give a team like that a goal and I know we gave them a couple. That's really not good and then the momentum changed a little and then we took a penalty. Their top guys took over in the third there after they got that one. We had a couple of chances, we had a breakaway in the third and even when we were down one, we got one right in front all alone. You have to give them credit. Their top guys stepped up when they needed to.
On the penalty call against Staal: I don't know if it's a cross check. He pushes him into the boards and you know, we were in that stage and there was a lot of extra to make sure you get the call, but you have to kill the penalty. They're talented. The guy who scored it in, a great tip. You gotta give credit.
On it being the final game as a Hurricane for a few of the guys: That's tough. It's a special group in there. This was a tough way to end a really good year. These guys played their butts off all year, but this is what you're going to remember. That's the hard part. It's a business. I'd love to roll us back with these guys, but who knows how that's all going to shake out.
On if he sensed a point where the foot came off of the gas: I don't know. Obviously when the one goal went in, they got life and you could see it. Then they had some good rushes, but I don't know what the final shots were, but it wasn't like it was a barrage. They were coming in waves but we were able to defend. They got momentum going. I mean it was clear. I don't know what to say. It was not the way you want to end it obviously.
On coming up short again despite all the additions: We played the best team in the league. So... and we're, I mean... Looking back on those first three games where we lost by a goal in overtime, there's a play here or there and everything's different and we just didn't find it. Even tonight, another goal puts the game away and it's a different story. We had our opportunities and there were a couple of posts in there. I don't look at it like that. That's the way it's going to be written, but I don't look at it like that at all.
On the young guys: The young kids, really, were very, very good for us and very, very productive and took huge strides. That's a real positive moving forward for sure for the organization. Everything is just tough to think of anything positive at the moment, to be quite honest, but those guys had really good years.
Jordan Staal
On the Rangers' push: The third wasn't great obviously. We didn't really have control in the third at all. They did a good job of finding ways to get the puck to the back of the net. Tough penalty and a big power play goal by them and then one rumble shift right after that and the next thing you know, we're down. It happened quick. That's the way the game goes sometimes. It wasn't a pretty third.
On how he felt about the call on his cross checking penalty: I didn't love it, no. He was doing that all series long. He did it about four times that game. It's hard for refs to know how hard I really pushed him, I guess.
On what the team could have done to halt New York's momentum: There's always things you could've done. Obviously they got a big goal to get them going and obviously a tough timing penalty. Obviously I would have loved to have been on that kill, but I was the idiot in the box. A big kill there probably would have changed the momentum for us and maybe we could have taken it back to them. They got a big goal and then they were rumbling from there. At that point it's obviously a one-shot game and they got it quick.
On the finality of the season: It's not fun. Boys battled hard, man. I mean... we battled hard. We had it in our hands there. Played some great hockey, I think, the whole series. Won a couple of big games and tonight was good beyond the third. We were 20 minutes from rolling into Game 7 where anything can happen. Frustrating, upsetting, all of the negative things that you can think of for that ending.
On potentially losing guys this offseason: We've had such a great group here for so long. The way this business goes, obviously you can see the squeezing a little bit with the way the cap goes, but I think they'll do their best to keep as many of these guys as they can. But yeah, I love all these guys. It's been fun growing up with this group. Coming up short right now hurts a lot knowing there's going to be a few changes.
Sebastian Aho
On the season ending the way it did: Obviously we had chances to build the lead, but we couldn't do it. Obviously, they did on their chances.
On if the mood changed at all after the Rangers' second goal: I don't know. Obviously whoever scores a goal gets some momentum and they obviously did a good job of riding the momentum. We still had chances after that to build the lead. Just didn't go our way.
On the difference in the third period: I don't know, honestly. The start of the third period, we hit two posts, had a breakaway, had good looks and obviously we couldn't score there. They scored when they had a chance. I don't know what changed.
On if it's even tougher knowing there's big changes coming this summer: Yeah. It sucks. ... Special group. I mean, just... hopefully we'll stay as same as possible, but that's the shitty part of it. I don't know... Like I said, we had a special group and I thought we had everything we needed to get over the hump. It sucks.
On how he grades his own performance this postseason: Obviously not good enough. We had one goal in mind. Go all the way and be the best team. Didn't get there, so not good enough.
On having added everything they thought they needed but still coming up short: Like I said, I thought we added the pieces that we were kind of missing. Unreal group of guys. So yeah, very frustrating.
On if he felt the hockey gods may have bene on their side following the diving save by Martinook: I don't really think the game that way. There's always the next shift. You don't think about what just happened. Obviously that was a big play by him and it shows what makes him great. He never gives up and never quits on the play. It was big play.
Frederik Andersen
On the game unraveling after the first goal against in the third period: I don't know. It hurt obviously. You don't want to give them life, obviously. I thought I had it covered and I wasn't able to get my glove down on it. A mistake. Tough timing for that and we weren't able to bounce back this time.
On the big changes coming this summer: Of course. You never know if you're going to keep the same group together, no matter what. It sucks. I know we had a really good team, a rally good group this year and obviously it hurts.
On what it felt like to be on the wrong side of the Rangers' push in the third period: I don't know. It sucks. Obviously we didn't really have an answer and they were able to get those bounces.
On if it hurts more with the way the season ended: We'll see, I guess. I don't want to stand here and say it's a learned lesson, but we never know what opportunities we have to win and I thought we had one. You never know when you're going to get the next one. Obviously it hurts a lot to not take advantage of it.