The Carolina Hurricanes, or should I say the Hartford Whalers, defeated the New Jersey Devils 1-0 in overtime Saturday night at PNC Arena.
Sebastian Aho scored the lone goal, batting in a midair puck 3:40 into the extra period, and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped all 34 shots he faced for his sixth career shutout.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Kochetkov, Aho and Martin Necas spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On Pyotr Kochetkov's performance: He couldn't be much better. He was sharp and made countless saves at big times too. He was the difference for sure.
On the difficulty with getting to the forecheck: We were just not doing it. Watching them skate around and trying to get rush opportunities and then we thought we would do it. We had a few but we had a lot of turnovers. That was the difference there. But we were working extremely hard. That was the difference. Once we did turn it over, it was a sellout to make sure we didn't give up a chance. On some of the turnovers, we were at least not getting burned by them. But it wasn't pretty, the first two periods, that's for sure.
On how nice it is to have Sebastian Aho and Martin Necas for 3-on-3: Well, they've got some good players too. Everyone has them. Again, a ton wasn't great. We turned it over at times when we had full possession. It was just one of those games for us where we weren't very mentally sharp with the puck. But you throw your talent guys out and let them do their thing and we got rewarded.
On the challenge for Kochetkov of being called upon to be a number one goaltender: It's really hard. It's the hardest position in sports. He's a young kid and still learning. We're just in the beginning stages, I think, of what we're going to see out of him.
On the defense: The kill was the key and they're part of that. They've got a real potent power play there and we were able to at least not give up one. Our defense plays hard. Like I said, we had a lot of turnovers, they had a lot where they coughed it up when it was on their stick and all of a sudden it wasn't, but the effort was incredible tonight, I thought.
On the toughness of Seth Jarvis: He's been great and that's the way he plays. He gets right in there. Game was fairly physical, a lot of hits, and it was give and take all night. That's why the score was what it was.
On the ice being reminiscent of the 1980s: A little bit. We might have taken that a little too literal with the Hartford thing.
On what he anticipates happening at the trade deadline: You're asking the wrong guy. That's a better question for up top, but we love our team. We make our moves in the offseason. We always talk about that. I don't have the answer for you there. We're always trying to get better, but we don't want to wreck what we have.
Pyotr Kochetkov
On shaking off the tough goals from his last game coming into tonight: When I came back last game, I no had confidence after the red line goal. I just focus... for my position and my hands. I don't have lots of ideas, I just want to do my work. Today, feel a little bit better. Team helped me. Defense played well too. Today felt more better.
On if finishing off Thursday's game with a strong performance gave him any confidence: I don't know. Maybe, maybe. I feel after Colorado game, a team win, I happy. I can come back. Today, same situation. I play just first period, second period. It's no with ideas. I just want to do my job.
On not getting rattled in a game with no goals: I tell before, I no have lots of ideas. I just see puck and I want to do save. When I have lots of ideas, every game I have bulls--t. Bad scores. Bad move. I no want to think lots about how I play, I just want to play. Second period, last period, overtime, I just play. I'm happiest after my saves.
On the feeling going into overtime with a 0-0 game: I just think when I go home. It's 0-0, I say 'F--k boys, please score.' I go home.
Sebastian Aho
On if it's difficult to play an entire game tied 0-0: It's a lot easier than being down. It's a tied game so it doesn't change anything. You don't have to open up or anything. You just grind through it and hopefully get some looks and try to cash in. Obviously it took a little extra time to get the win, but 0-0, 1-1, it doesn't really matter. It's just about the next shift and I thought we played the best period in the third and that's always good. Obviously we were able to get the win in the OT.
On the ice conditions: It was kind of soft, I thought. But that's not an excuse. But it did feel a little heavy to skate on the ice.
On the game winner: It was just a good play by [Necas] to cut through the middle and get a shot off. Just followed up and the rebound came up right into me while it was in midair, but it was still in the wheelhouse and I tapped it in.
On if it felt like it was going to be an odd-goal that decided the game: Yeah, it was kind of one of those nights. We both had some power play looks and had good looks on both ends. Obviously both goalies played well. There was not a lot there tonight. They played hard and we played hard, I thought. We're just going to be moving forward.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: He gave us every chance to win this hockey game. He was unreal tonight and he's been really good the whole year, I think.
On Kochetkov's mental toughness: [Getting pulled Thursday and coming back in] was probably something you don't want to put goalies through, going back and forth, but it's kind of the mindset of the team. It's about the next shift. Bad shift or good shift or a bad game or good game, it's about moving forward and try to do the best you can. Obviously that's been our mindset and he's done a great job as well.
Martin Necas
On not being the one to score at 3-on-3 finally: I tried. I wanted to, but I don't know. Puck was stopping, bouncing everywhere, [Kochetkov] was playing forward. I mean it was kind of a crazy OT. I didn't even see how it went in, but it's a good win. It was a tight game. They played good defense. Wasn't many chances and a great job by [Kochetkov].
On Aho batting the puck in: He did? I actually didn't know because I shot it and then was circling the other way. Great play then. What do I say? Great goal by [Aho]. Now we can rest up a little bit and get ready for the road.
On the physicality of the game: It was a gritty game. I felt like the ice wasn't great today. Puck was bouncing everywhere and there were not many pretty chances, but that's how it is sometimes and we got it done.
On balancing making a play versus playing it safe in a tight game: You don't think about it in the game when you're in the flow and rolling lines. Obviously when it's a tied game you don't want to make those mistakes, but we stuck with it, [Kochetkov] made some huge saves and the PK was great. That was why we got the 'W' tonight.