“This is my first NHL season in another country, another mentality, new system for me. I’m excited and I’m very happy every day when I come to the practice rink or Scotiabank [Arena] for the game, I’m just very happy.” –Ilya Mikheyev (1 goal, 1 assist)

MAPLE LEAFS 5, RED WINGS 2

WHAT THE LEAFS SAID:
HEAD COACH MIKE BABCOCK

On the play of the third and fourth lines tonight:

Well, they were good. I started [Gauthier] and Shore – whatever line you want to call it – in the D-zone every time and they seemed to win the draw and play in the offensive zone, so that was a good line for us. I think [Kerfoot’s] line with [Moore] and Mikheyev is getting better each and every game and they’ve been good in lots of games for us, so that was positive.

On if he could have used his fourth line the same way last season:

No. [Gauthier] is another year in the League, Shoresy is a right-hand faceoff guy and we didn’t have that. They’re just not in the same situation we were in a year ago. I thought [Timashov] had a heck of a game. He was fast, he was strong, he was physical. The goals and that stuff were bonus, but I thought he played real well.

On Timashov’s progress as the result of his time with the Marlies:

Obviously, it’s a real good league and it’s hard to be good in that league. Some guys that are good in that league don’t – it doesn’t transfer to the National Hockey League. The guys who can skate and process information, it normally transfers, and, in his case, it looks like it is.

On the team’s work ethic after the loss to Tampa Bay:

We talked about a lot about that – how hard can we work? We thought our work ethic was really good in camp, really good at the start, liked it all the way through. We didn’t like it last game but, to me, that’s got to be our calling card. If we go to work, our talent will show and you’ve got to outwork the other team. That’s the bottom line. I like our consistency and our patience in our game. Even when they scored, we didn’t get off track, we just played the next shift.

On being able to consistently trust the fourth line:

That’s what we were hoping for and trying to do. Against good players – Larkin’s line was out there and we knew they were coming, we just put them out there. You don’t know what’s going to happen. We were down 1-0 at that point and you don’t know what’s going to happen, but if the guys can do it, obviously it’s a huge deal for you. It makes you a way better hockey club and way deeper and then you can play [Tavares] and [Matthews] out in the offensive zone all the time, which is easier on them.

FREDERIK ANDERSEN (25 SAVES)

On the team fighting back after Detroit scored first:

Of course, when they strike first early on it’s a good thing we could keep going. That wasn’t the start we were looking for. Just shake it off and keep going and get back to playing our hockey.

On the team’s third and fourth lines spending a lot of time in the offensive zone:

I think we were able to sustain some good shifts down there, some good, heavy shifts, and wear their D down a little bit. I thought we did a good job of shooting the puck and getting the puck back once we did. I think the more time like that we can put wear and tear on their lines and keep them in. Especially in the second period, I thought we did a good job of that.

FREDERIK GAUTHIER (100% FACEOFF WIN PERCENTAGE)

On the play of his line tonight:

I think with the game we had last game we just tried to come out strong and have a good first period and it went well. I think chemistry worked well, getting a goal early is always nice and getting the legs under you. Then, obviously, the draws went well for me and [Shore] so we got to start with the puck which is better than chasing it all night.

On if he thought tonight was one of his better games as a Leaf:

I think we played well, I was good on the draw today and the wingers were helping.

ILYA MIKHEYEV (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)

On if Kapanen’s flip pass was a set play:

I saw [Kapanen] did a flip pass and I knew to just keep moving and I see the puck before me.

On if he was surprised Howard came out of the net:

I think the goalie thought it was a 50-50 and I have a chance and I did it.

On if he’s happy with the start to his NHL career:

I don’t think about this. I just work This is my first NHL season in another country, another mentality, new system for me. I’m excited and I’m very happy every day when I come to the practice rink or Scotiabank [Arena] for the game, I’m just very happy.

JAKE MUZZIN (1 GOAL)

On if he thought the team responded after last week’s results:

Yeah, obviously, we weren’t happy with the results we had last week. It just came down to working harder. I thought we came out tonight with the right attitude and we had a good start. I know they got one early, but I thought we did most of the work in the first period, we did a good job. We focused on our start and went form there and I think we did a good job for a full 60 there tonight.

On the patience shown from Timashov to set up his goal:

That’s exactly what he had – patience. Either he hits the one-timer there or looks for another play. My momentum kept me going to the net and he found me backdoor and I was lucky to get some wood on it and put it in. We’ll take it.

NICK SHORE (1 GOAL, 1 ASSIST)

On Timashov setting the for their tone tonight:

It was great, on that first one he did a lot of the work, got in there and got in on the forecheck. We’re at our best when we can turn pucks over behind there net. He played a great game and made it easy on us.

On scoring his first of the season:

Certainly it’s always good to see the puck go in the net but, at the same time, I think it was big for our team. We’re coming off a couple games where we didn’t play how we wanted to so we just wanted to get off to a good start.