The Carolina Hurricanes throttled the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 Saturday night at PNC Arena.
Seabastian Aho, Jack Drury, Teuvo Teravainen, Stefan Noesen and Brady Skjei all scored and Pyotr Kochetkov made 20 saves in the win.
Following the win, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Aho, Drury and Kochetkov spoke with the media. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On the team's performance: It was good. It was just we got results. I think we played well. It was very similar to the one other game, we were just able to score and for the most part, keep them off the scoresheet. The overall game I thought was good and very similar to how we've been playing.
On a bounce back game for Pyotr Kochetkov: We didn't want to play him. We wanted to try and give him a night off, but Raanta wasn't able to go, so you've got to give him credit for answering that. Didn't have a ton of work, but he made a few saves and allowed us to kind of cruise.
On Kochetkov's aggressive style: That's the way he feels like doing it. He actually did it, it's just that we messed up after the fact. He's got his instincts and that's what makes him good.
On Sebastian Aho: He was good. He was the difference. That line was good, he was real special tonight. Had the chance to get the third one, that would have been nice, but he was good.
On Teravainen's faceoff win assist: We're not drawing that one up, but it's just the way it worked out tonight. We talk about him a lot. He can pretty much do whatever you ask him to do. He's got that ability.
On Jack Drury: You can tell Jack's pushing to show that he belongs all the time and that's what you love about him. He's an NHLer, but he knows that, 'I've got to keep proving myself.' That's how you've got to be. He's been good all year, just nice to see him finally getting rewarded for the effort. We've had a lot of guys that haven't been rewarded for how well they've played this year and he's one of them.
On the upcoming road trip: It's a tough road trip coming up. Our longest one of the year against good teams. Nice to at least get on the plane tomorrow and be feeling good about it.
On the way his team's playing: I've liked how we've played for quite a while. We really haven't had... even the game that looked like it was really bad, really wasn't that bad, just weird things happened. I thought tonight was good to just get rewarded for some of the work the guys have put in.
On the variety of goals scored: I think it was just how that game went. They're a very tricky team. They've got so much talent and they know it. It's like, they know they're good and can do things with the puck and skate. So it was just challenging to make sure you don't give them too much ice. And then they gave us a few opportunities that we were able to cash in. That's the key. It wasn't that we had more opportunities than the night before. It was just that we were able to find the back of the net.
On Martin Necas' performance with the fourth line: It's balanced. That's the key. We have balance if we can keep this lineup. Generally your fourth line maybe doesn't play that much, but that's not the way we've done it. I think he played 17 the night before, maybe a little less tonight, but it's just trying to make sure you get everyone out there enough.
On if it's a positive response when it could be easy for him to get down: I 100% agree he's responded, but I don't know why he would be down. He gets to play with some different types of players that might actually help you and that's what it seems to be.
Sebastian Aho
On his offensive production: Tried to go for the hatty, but it was a good performance.
On being the best top to bottom performance: It's up there. Obviously, it only counts for two points, but it's nice to have that kind of effort. Nice way to end this home stand. Sets a tone for this upcoming road trip.
On it being interesting penalty calls against him: I thought so too. But it goes 100 miles per hour, the game. It's a tough sport to officiate.
On it being a game they can build on: Absolutely. Especially the first period. I thought we came out really good and put the pressure on them. Obviously got a couple of goals there too. It helps.
On the game being similar to the Islanders game, just with the bounces all going there way: I guess. I don't know. Two different games so it's tough to compare, but I thought we played a pretty solid game in that one too. Got a point from that, but felt like we could have won that game, but that's hockey. They have good players too and they made some nice plays and had big goals at the time.
On the upcoming road trip: It's a big one. A long one first of all and we're going to be playing good teams. You don't want to look at it as a long road trip. You just want to take it one game at a time. We'll take care of it tomorrow and move on for the next day.
On the way the team's been playing: It was a good game by us.
On when he knew he had the chance for the hat trick: Player's know when they have two, so... It's pretty much automatic that you try to get the third one, but obviously it didn't go in. But overall, I thought we played a solid game as a line for sure.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: Great game by him.
Jack Drury
On getting his legs under him: I've been pretty fortunate to play with some good players. They make it easy and I just have to try and capitalize on my chances.
On having a rotating cost of linemates: We just have such a deep team. It's easy whoever you're playing with. Obviously I've gotten to play with Noesen a lot, he's a heck of a player and then whether it's Bunting or Necas, whoever it is, it's pretty easy to play with the guys we've got.
On Martin Necas' speed: It makes it pretty easy for me. I just try to get him the puck and get him open.
On leading the team in fights: You gotta win them to get a little more credit, but it is what it is.
On getting more pointers from Brendan Lemieux: I need 'em, but maybe I should just leave the fighting to him for a little bit.
On the upcoming road trip: It's a tough one, but I think it's a great challenge before Christmas here. We know how important it is to get some wins, so yeah just taking it day by day and getting ready for Winnipeg.
On the way the team's playing: The last two games have been great. Obviously, in the Islanders game, we didn't get the result, but I think the last two games we played the way we wanted to play, played our system and we've gotta keep it going.
On getting consistent time in the NHL this year: You just try to go day by day. We've got a great group here. The guys make it easy, coaching staff makes it easy. Get a lot of support from them. Just try to stay confident and try to get better every day.
Pyotr Kochetkov
On having a rebound game: Today went a little bit better. Today was a nice chance for me to play better. The team helps me every game. Today, it was a lot of goals and a lot of blocked shots. Tonight, I was happy.
On when he found out he was going to play tonight: Today after lunch. Raanta was a little bit sick.
On seeing more NHL action: It's good for my confidence. I feel better when I play more games. I'm happy now. It's my dream.
On if this stretch has felt different than the start of the season: The start of the season it was a little bit harder. Now, I feel better. Every game, I've felt a little better and I've progressed.
On his aggressive poke checking: It's just an idea, like 'Okay, let's go!' I don't know, it's hard to tell. I feel, I go. Sometimes I feel confident. I feel the player, just goes sees where I stay and just sees puck. 'Okay, I have nice chance.' Today, I hope Chatty is okay, was a little bit dangerous.
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