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HARTLEY: FLAMES WILL NEVER HAVE LOSERS’ MENTALITY
The Calgary Herald supposes that if the Flames’ dogged determination wanes, even slightly, this could turn into a particularly ugly season for a team already near the bottom of the NHL standings.
“No, no, that won’t slide,” coach Bob Hartley vowed the other day. “I can make that promise to you and to our fans. Because that’s the culture we want to create.
“We want to teach the Brodies, the Monahans, the Boumas, the way to be a good pro. Whatever the score is, we’re gonna keep competing. It’s funny you’re asking me about this, because that was my topic this morning at my team meeting. Basically, for the last month and a half, two months, we’ve been in every game, that’s what we want to build.”
More Hartley: “The commitment to this organization, to our fans, the commitment to winning hockey games, to battling in every game, is non-negotiable.
“I will never allow a losers’ mentality to creep into our locker-room.”
FLYERS’ STREIT: SWISS CONFIDENT HEADED TO OLYMPICS
36-year-old Flyers defenseman Mark Streit spoke with CSNPhilly.com about the honor of being named to Switzerland’s roster for Sochi, which will mark his fourth Olympics. Streit has also represented the Swiss 12 times in the World Championships.
“Swiss hockey has come a long way the past, 10, 12, 15 years,” Streit said. “It’s great to see more and more players playing in the NHL. It’s great for Swiss hockey and the national team. It’s good to compete and face of a lot of good teams there.
“We did excellent at the last World Championships. It will be a different competition, but I think we can play with a lot of confidence. We have some skill and some speed. We want to win some games.”
Will there be a carryover from last year’s World Champs?
“Absolutely,” Streit said. “When you get the confidence to feel like you can play with the big boys, you go in feeling like you compete to win. We are still underdogs, no question about it. But it’s been a big thing for Swiss hockey to get some results.
“We have players coming over here to the NHL and junior hockey and having success. We have had some success in the tournaments.
“Good goaltending has been something we’ve been getting for awhile, and that is a big thing, too. So, yes, I do think we can take what we’ve been doing and keep building on that.”
HALL WELCOMES ANY TEAM CANADA ROLE
Oilers winger Taylor Hall, via The Edmonton Sun, on Tuesday’s pending Team Canada roster announcement:
“It would be different if I was playing in Florida or something, but playing here, you’re exposed to it all the time, you’re always being asked about it and that kind of thing,” Hall said Monday. “Whether it’s positive or negative (Tuesday), I’m excited to just to get it over with. If I’m on the team, I’m going to be super jacked and if not, I’ll get a nice Olympic break, for sure.”
On Tuesday morning: “I’m looking forward to the announcement. Whether I make the team or not, I wish the team all the best. I’d love to represent my country, especially at the Olympic level, but my focus is here. I think I’ve played well and I think I’ve improved steadily as the season has gone on. I think we’ll see how much I’ve improved (Tuesday).”
On a possible taxi squad inclusion: “I’d accept of any role that they gave. Even being at the Olympics as a practice player would be a special opportunity, just being around that village and around that whole experience. Getting named to team Canada in any capacity would be amazing.”
PRICE EMERGES FOR CANADIENS
The New York Times believes Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has broken through to elite status this season, in no small part because of his work with Montreal’s new goalie coach, Stephane Waite.
“Most goalies have their best seasons when they’re 26, 27, 28,” said Waite, who added that Price had matured. “He was already one of the best N.H.L. goalies. And he’s so talented in every area: size, fitness, good feel about the game, how he reads it. He’s got everything.”
Price is expected to be named to Team Canada’s Olympic roster Tuesday.
SKINNER FINDS HIS GROOVE FOR CANES
The Raleigh News & Observer notes Hurricanes coach Kirk Muller said Monday that forward Jeff Skinner has found his ‘identity’ as a player. He has been thriving on the first line with Eric Staal.
“He’s playing off of everybody,” Muller said of Skinner. “He’s relaxed. He’s not worried about yapping back at referees and all that. He’s staying away from all the junk that goes on in a game.”
WINTER CLASSIC IMPRESSED KINGS’ SUTTER
Via LA Kings Insider, coach Darryl Sutter was asked if he watched the Winter Classic.
“You bet. [Reporter: What’d you think?] I was very impressed with the whole production part of it – the players’ performance…it was very impressive. Just basically that’s how we played when we were young kids. The ice is always good when it’s cold. Your feet get cold. When it snows, you’ve got to manage around it a little bit.”
OATES HOPES CAPITALS’ GOALIE SITUATION ‘GETS RECTIFIED’
CSNWashington.com addresses the elephant in the Capitals’ dressing room, with the team having three goalies (Philipp Grubauer, Braden Holtby and Michal Neuvirth), two nets, and no clear-cut answer on who’s No. 1.
“It’s not optimal,” coach Adam Oates said. “It’s not. If there is one guy playing good the other two guys want their chance. They’re fighting for scraps in a sense. So, it’s not optimal, but it’s the way it is right now.”
Will it become a distraction?
“Possible,” Oates said. “But if they’re pros, it shouldn’t. Hopefully, it gets rectified.”
More Oates: “Unfortunately for (Neuvirth), he got hurt. You can’t control that. It’s fluky, he got hurt. Philipp played good. I’m a coach, I’m gonna go with what I want. Their job is to be prepared for their turn. That’s all you can control.”
SABRES MOVING GRIGORENKO BACK TO JUNIOR?
The Buffalo News relays that Sabres forward Mikhail Grigorenko will come to Buffalo from the world junior championships to meet with Ted Nolan and Pat LaFontaine and discuss returning to junior.
“Some mixed reviews. That’s a problem with some young players, that consistent factor,” Nolan said. “He played great at moments and not so well at other moments. … That’s been the book and it’s up to our organization to correct that.
“And you don’t correct that by giving things to players. You make them earn it and you watch them do it on a consistent basis for a consistent amount of time. You donn’t just do it for a week and say, ‘We’re all fixed.’
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