HEAD COACH SHELDON KEEFE
On the third period:
Yeah, we scored that goal, it sets us up to give us a chance to win in the third. The pace of play increased dramatically after that goal. Obviously, they’re pushing. We didn’t handle it well, I thought. When I say that, I thought we handled it very well defensively. I didn’t think we cracked, they had a couple of little chances in and around our net. Other than that, they didn’t have anything, I thought. They score a goal on a point shot. But I didn’t like how we played offensively where we had the puck, we did all the things that we don’t want to be as a team and we just gave it back to them, so we never had a chance to get going.
On if fatigue played a role in the third period:
I’ll let you guys draw some conclusions on that. I’m not focused on that. It’s part of the League. It’s part of the demands of what goes on in the schedule, the ebbs and flows of it. I thought we played a good game and a hard game. I thought we competed. What happens in the third period today is a lot different than what happens yesterday. Yesterday we’re not engaged, we’re not competitive or physical enough and on our heels. This game here I thought we defended very well, defended very hard and didn’t give up the middle of the ice much at all. We just were very poor with the puck. When you have a team that’s pushing, they have the energy of the crowd and you just continuously give them the puck you’re going to be on your heels a lot.
On Jack Campbell’s play:
Yeah, he was there, he obviously didn’t let anything in until the very end and I thought we did a heck of a job protecting him. We didn’t give up very many scoring chances through this game at all. But they’re back-to-back games, he’s been through a lot here this week and he was solid.
On what has led to John Tavares’ scoring streak:
He’s just catching on. We’ve talked about him, he’s a good player, he’s going to have these swings. It’s kind of a waste of time to talk about it when he’s not scoring, because it’s going to turn. So it’s the way that it goes. It’s been great, it’s been good timing. Obviously, we played it out Willy this weekend, so we needed somebody else to step up. And, for me, that’s really the difference in the hockey game today is you don’t win games when you score one goal, it’s very difficult. So I think that’s the way it went this game. We were not able to generate enough offensively in the first and second periods as well. Power play wasn’t very good for us today. So we let that team hang around and when you just have a one goal cushion like that, you leave the door open over for a point shot to catch you.
On Frederik Andersen’s status:
I’m not quite sure where that’s at. I know he did skate again today. While we were here, he skated, and I haven’t got a report on it. So we’ll just have to see how he is when we get back.
TYSON BARRIE (25:02 TOI)
On the third period:
Yeah, give them credit, they came out — we had a good start to the third, obviously, we got one and then from there they kind of controlled the period had us on our heels, like you said. I think we have to do a better job of responding in a way. Getting more O-zone time and not letting them sustain so much pressure but, at the end of the day, we’re trying to hold on to the lead and they get one with two minutes left or whatever. It’s a bit frustrating.
On Jack Campbell’s play:
He was great tonight. He was good all night and makes a great save on the breakaway and it pops right to the guy. Probably not a great shot selection by me on that 3-on-2 but that’s sometimes the way 3-on-3 goes. You’ve got to be a little smarter sometimes.
JACK CAMPBELL (28 SAVES)
On playing in a Toronto-Montreal game:
It’s fun. What a rivalry. Historic and two really solid teams this year. I thought both teams competed really hard and didn’t give each other much. I thought Price at the other end was so solid and we could have easily had a couple more, but at the end of the day I’ve just got to make one more save before overtime and we get two points and that’s what we need right now.
On his performance tonight:
I’m just definitely not happy giving that one up to give them life again and blow that lead in the third. I just know my ability and I’m confident with my team in front of me and they battled all night. One more save and we get two points.
JAKE MUZZIN (24:39 TOI)
On if playing a back-to-back impacted the team’s third period performance:
Maybe a little bit. No excuse, though. Everyone goes through back-to-backs and playing tired and stuff like that. We’ve got to bear down and get it done.
On his long second period shift that included a heavy shot block:
Well, it doesn’t feel good. It’s part of hockey. Sometimes in the second period, you get a long change, you can’t get off. It happens both ways, so it is what it is.
JOHN TAVARES (1 GOAL)
On tonight’s third period:
Yeah, obviously we got the lead. They came with a lot momentum, I think, felt some desperation. I think obviously, it’s human nature to be a little bit safer in those certain circumstances, but certainly we’ve got to find a way to get on their half of the ice more and generate some more offense and push to increase our lead and continue to be smart with the puck and defensively. No question the circumstances were tough, but you face that at times this year and, we’ve obviously got to find a way to close them out.
On what the team did well defensively through two periods:
I really liked the way we were coming back and getting above them. We really tracked the puck well and caused a lot of turnovers that allowed us to get some good transition that just allowed us to be in on the forecheck and recover pucks and then be able to break them down. We would have liked to get in the middle of the ice a little bit more, but it was a tight hockey game, both goalies played well, but those things obviously were a good factor for us.
The view from left field 