The Carolina Hurricanes capped off their three-game road trip sweep with a 4-1 victory over the New York Islanders Tuesday night.
Seth Jarvis scored twice, Martin Necas and Jake Guentzel also each tallied and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 30 shots in the win.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Jarvis and Guentzel spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On Martin Necas' buzzer-beater goal: That was a huge goal. The end of the first, number one, and then on the power play. It was kind of an individual effort obviously. I think that was a... I don't want to say put the game away, but it certainly gave us a nice cushion. It was a huge goal.
On the game: You knew they were going to be desperate. They built a game as it went on. It was probably even as it went on after the first period as far as everything that went along, but it's just about trying to stay focused. I thought we did a decent job of that. I thought we gave up a little too much, but we were playing a desperate team and they were able to get some chances, but our goalie was really good tonight.
On if anything needed to be said after the Isles scored early in the third: I mean, it was a little bit of a mess up on our part, but he made a nice play. We're a veteran team. We know how to play, it's just easier said than done and you've got a good team over there that was pressing. So they capitalized on that chance and then I thought after that we were okay.
On Jake Guentzel: He's a real good player obviously. You see it out there. He made some great plays tonight and even that one at the end. You don't think much of it, but it puts the game away. Putting an empty netter in from the redline, there was a little skill play to get it past the defenseman and put it in the net. So he's been a real good addition.
On adding players like that to an already talented group: Listen, he's a winner and you can't have enough of those guys around. Guys who know how to win. We're fortunate to have both him and [Kuznetsov] added at the deadline. Both guys get it and I think they make our team much better.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: I thought early, the first seven or eight minutes, we weren't very good and they had a few close ones right in tight and a few almosts. Like the game could have definitely flipped there, but he was good early and then made a couple of saves late too. We had a two-goal lead, but if they got another one, then it gets a little scary. He was good for us.
On Evgeny Kuznetsov: It's another good player that we've added that's won before too. He's got a high skill level, that's for sure, and I've loved the energy that he's bringing to the group. I think he's playing with a lot of passion right now. Both guys have really helped us.
On how he approaches these games knowing the playoffs are essentially locked up: You try to take it a day at a time. We have a lot of games still left. It's kind of a tough one because we just take it one day at a time and try to win every game that comes and wherever we end up, we end up. We know we have to get in the playoffs still, but hopefully we do that. No matter who you play, you're going to play a great team, so it's just a matter of us staying focused.
On if he would ever consider resting guys down the stretch: It's too early to really be discussing that stuff. Maybe if there's a couple of games left and we're in a good spot, then maybe you start looking at things, but we're certainly not there yet.
Seth Jarvis
On playing with Jake Guentzel: It's a lot easier when you have a guy with that much skill that also works hard. It's easy to play with and fun to play with and it's someone that I think we're excited for going forward.
On the team's recent stretch: We've been doing good. We've just been staying positive. I think we've had a few games, like in Toronto, where we were kind of behind the 8-ball a little bit, but we've just battled and stuck with it. We've done a good job in keeping the room composed and being able to battle through it.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: He was great. Awesome again. He's been great all season so it's been fun to play in front of him.
On the game: They come out hard and fast every game here, so we knew what to expect but we didn't quite match it quick enough, but that's why [Kochetkov] is here to make big saves and let us get settled in. From there to about the last five to ten minutes of the game, I think we controlled it and did a really good job of taking over.
On how the locker room feels when they get a last second goal like Necas': That was nasty, yeah. Really good. He's such a skilled player. To see him kind of dance up the ice like that, but anytime you score at the end of the period, especially on the power play, it makes a big difference.
Jake Guentzel
On joining a new group: It's a fun group to be a part and a really good team. When you come in, you don't really want to mess anything up. We're on a good little run here so far and I've been playing with some special players, so it's been fun.
On if he feels any additional pressure being a guy that was specifically brought in to be 'that guy': No. There's a lot of high-end players on this team, so I'm just trying to help the team out as much as I can. Our line lately has been on a little run here, so it's been fun and hopefully it kind of keeps going. We'll see what happens.
On Seth Jarvis' second goal: Just a great play by [Slavin] to get it up and my and Jarvis did a little give-and-go. Just a good play and nice for him to get that one.
On matching a desperate Islanders team: We've got to be on the same boat. Making sure we're ready for playoffs and getting into a good spot. We have to be playing good hockey, so we know teams are going to be desperate at this time of the year, but so are we.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: He's just phenomenal. It's been fun to watch him and see him up close. He's been really good for the whole year and obviously since I've been here. It's been good.
On his impression of Carolina: It's been unbelievable here. The guys have taken me in and it's been a whirlwind, so it's nice to kind of relax now and play some games. You get to know people in game environments. It's been different for me, but it's been fun.
On if the team has started to pick his brain on playoff experiences: No we're just trying to play hockey right now and see what happens. This team has gone far at that time of year before, so I don't think they really need much. They've gone far, so they know what to expect and when it gets there we'll see what happens.