Cannon City Quotables: Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Edmonton Oilers
Last night, Sean Kuraly, Mathieu Olivier, and Daniil Tarasov spoke to the media postgame. HC Pascal Vincent also gave his thoughts on the game.
Sean Kuraly - 1 assist - +1, 2 hits, 62.5 faceoff %
- On guarding McDavid - We did well on it tonight as a group. It was a group effort.
- On closing out games and a struggling PK - We handled it well. I keep saying it's a lot better to learn this way when we do it right and we can get the pattern down of how to win a game.
- Every game is the most important game, and we have to play 60 minutes all night.
- If you don't have your A game, bring your B game. It was a full team effort tonight.
- On Olivier's fight - Good timing from Ollie, he's been really good with that.
- On Tarasov - He was huge for us. Made some big saves. We need good goaltending and we got it tonight and won the game.
Mathieu Olivier - 1 goal, 7 PIM, 1 fight, 3 hits
- It's obviously good to contribute in different ways. Some ways different than what I usually contribute as well.
- This is a big win for us again. Lately, we've been making some strides, and been able to hold onto leads.
- It speaks to our game the way we were able to tame their offense a little bit, and really play good offensively but also defensively tonight.
- On not being a regular in the lineup - When you're in and out it's never easy. You want to be in there, you want to contribute, but you also want to be in there to get your rhythm. Playing multiple games in a row here definitely helps with that. It facilitates my role and the way I want to play out there.
- There's this whole talk about the timing of a fight, you shouldn't do it when you have a lead, I don't agree with that. Unless you lose badly, then maybe. But I think fights are always good for momentum.
- 100% these games help us with confidence.
- Everyone's getting a little more mature out there and it's starting to show and we starting to get results.
- We're on the right track.
- I think everyone needs to play hard, regardless of your role.
Daniil Tarasov - 29 saves, .935 save %
- On facing a skilled Edmonton team - Just play simple, it's just another game. We need to be sharp and ready.
- On facing an Edmonton 5 on 3 - Don't think about that there are just 3 guys there. They didn't get any big chances.
- I saw a lot of shots from the blue line.
- I thought there was no panic when they scored their second goal.
- It was a team effort.
- I'm just trying to enjoy the game and play as good as I can. get better every day.
Head Coach Pascal Vincent
- I think we played a solid 60 minutes tonight. We're seeing a team that's getting more confident.
- Our transition game is really good right now.
- Our defensive gap was really good. Playing against probably the best offensive team in the league today and we didn't give them much through the neutral zone.
- We went out there on a mission to win a hockey game, and we finished the game.
- I thought we were pretty much textbook.
- Our plan was to put them under pressure. No time, no space.
- Tonight was a real good test against a speedy team.
- On Mathieu Olivier - He's playing really well. When he plays like this, yes we are a better team.
- Im telling you, this team is going somewhere at some point.
- The way we're playing right now, it's not by accident.
- On Marchenko - I thought he played a solid game for us. I think his number one skill is his desire to get better. I like his full 200-foot game, he responded very well.
What's Next - The Blue Jackets are at home again on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. against the Nashville Predators.
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