The New York Rangers showed remarkable resiliency in Tuesday’s huge Game 6 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, adding to their dominance when elimination is on the line.
So, what is the team’s mindset following that victory?
Below is a transcript from the Rangers’ media availability Wednesday morning following that Game 6 victory over the Lightning to force Game 7.
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Q&A: ALAIN VIGNEAULT
Q: Can you predict what the next game will bring?
COACH VIGNEAULT: Well, I think what you can predict is that two teams are going to go on the ice and battle and work extremely hard to try and win a game. I mean, you’ve got two highly skilled teams that both want to win.
Q: When you get to Game 7, do you have a message?
VIGNEAULT: It’s Game 7. In this sport it doesn’t get much better than this. Starting tomorrow — today will be a day where we’re going to rest up a little bit — but starting tomorrow we’re going to focus on the elements that we need to do on the ice to have a good game. We’re going to narrow our players’ focus to exactly that, that permits us to stay in the moment, go on the ice and execute. And that’s what we’re going to try and do.
Q: Being defence-first, have you seen enough of that at MSG?
VIGNEAULT: The games at MSG have been a little different, how they’ve played themselves out. But this is Game 7, I’m very confident that our group is going to go on the ice, make the plays that need to be made against such a strong opponent. There are some plays, like it’s going to be our seventh game in a short amount of time against this team. There are some plays that we know we need to make against that team to have success, and hopefully we’ll be able to execute them.
Q: If a line is rolling like [Brassard’s] last night, you okay with the other lines being just defensive?
VIGNEAULT: You know, again, are we going to be into — like last night, it looked like it was going to be another 2-1 game, and it turned out to be a little different. Games are going to unfold. We’re hoping to be able to make the other team pay for some mistakes. In Game 7, you need different guys stepping up, and hopefully we’ll have more than one.
Q: Coach, when you challenge the players, are you blunt? How do you define that?
VIGNEAULT: You know, I would always prefer that those conversations stay between a player and a coach. Sometimes players get a little excited after a big win and they don’t want to share things. But what started as a challenge, it was more like this is the reality, and this is what we need you guys to do. And they’re both very professional. They both understood what I was talking about, and it wasn’t that big of a deal.
Q: The way Hedman is playing, what’s it say about your team that they will not let that be a factor that he¹s been in check?
VIGNEAULT: Every team you meet in the playoffs has those dynamic players. There’s definitely a plan for the dynamic players on how to play them. He is one of their great players and leading personalities in the league. He’s definitely one of the best. So we definitely have a plan we’re trying to implement, but it’s not easy against that skill level.
Q: Are you okay with Kreider’s response to the non-call?
VIGNEAULT: Yeah. I mean, I think 90% of the people watching that hit, the numbers are there, five, six guys face into the boards. You’ve got to play through that at this time. I mean, as much as — at some point you’re happy that a player protects their teammate, and at this time not knowing what the guys calling are going to call, I mean, attempt to turn the other cheek and let’s play.
Q&A: DERICK BRASSARD
Q: What’s the feeling like to have that type of game in that situation?
DERICK BRASSARD: Obviously, it felt pretty good. You know, you try to play well for your team, you try to be involved, and I was just — like I said yesterday, it was just like one of those nights. I was in the right place at the right time. My teammates gave me some really good plays, and I’m just going to try to bring it in Game 7.
Q: Good to have a day off?
BRASSARD: Yeah, yeah, it’s going to be good for our team, just to have a chance today to not think about hockey, not go to the
rink and rest our bodies. Come Friday, it’s going to be fully energized with a lot of energy, obviously. I remember, I guess, against Washington we were pretty exhausted and we were pretty tired, and those two days really helped us to come out with a win.
Q: This is the time of year, did you always know (indiscernible) that you wanted to be the guy? How much do you love this time of year?
BRASSARD: Yeah, I think I play with a lot of emotion, and I think at this time of the year that’s what it takes to make a difference, a lot of passion and emotion. I played four years in the league before I got my first taste of the playoffs, and I think I really enjoy playing at this time. There is nothing better than playing in New York in front of those fans and playing on a good team.
Q: How difficult was it for you to play all those years and not make the playoffs?
BRASSARD: Yeah, it was really hard. I had a hard time in Columbus, but I stuck with it. I came here to New York, and they showed me a lot of confidence right away, and I think it really helped me to adjust to a new team and come here and have some success.
Q: You spent some extra time on the ice after morning skate, working on anything else?
BRASSARD: No, not really. I was just playing there with Marty and Zuc came on the ice with a big smile, and I think that actually kind of helped me to have a smile on my face a little bit. I wasn’t working on anything. I was just playing there.
Q: What is it about there being more goals in Tampa than at MSG?
BRASSARD: I don’t know. That’s a good question. It should be the other way around, but we’re a pretty good road team. We show up to play every time on the road. It seems like we don’t have anyone to impress. Maybe at home we’re trying to impress our fans or we’re trying to impress people.
I think we just have to show up Friday and play the same way, be confident. They’re going to be loud. The atmosphere’s going to be great, and we just have to take those emotions and put it in a good way.
Q: The games have been so different, any idea what to expect for game 7?
BRASSARD: No, both teams have had their moments. You know, it’s been back and forth, and we’re facing a really good team. I think it’s some really good hockey to watch. You know, we’re not far from our goal, and we just have to begin one more game and play hard, but we’re just going to try to focus on our play. We’re going to focus on our team. We’re going to follow the game plan and we’re going to give ourselves the best chance to win this game.
Q: How much of a difference has JT Miller been?
BRASSARD: Yeah, I think J.T., his attitude has been outstanding for the past two weeks. He’s been competing really hard. I think, like I said yesterday, he’s energized our line. I remember last game he was trying to push me and Rick to be better and to make a difference. He’s a guy with a really good shot, he wins a lot of pucks. He’s a really strong guy, and we need him to be really good to be successful. Last night it was just I think he got rewarded with all the hard work he’s been doing the past couple weeks.
Q&A: DEREK STEPAN
Q: What’s it going to be like to be back home at MSG?
DEREK STEPAN: Yeah, the Garden has been so great the last few years in the playoffs, and Game 7s are so exciting to play on that ice, and the fans seem to just absolutely light that building up. It’s a really cool experience, and it makes for a great atmosphere. You know, you play all year to get home ice advantage, and that’s what we’re able to do this year. Now we get ourselves in a Game 7 in front of our own fans.
Q: What is it about Tampa and their bounce-back ability?
STEPAN: Definitely. Their top six forwards are elite players. Their bottom six play a really hard game and they finish their checks. Their group altogether plays a really strong game. We have to bring our best in order to win on Friday night.
Q: What do you think about Brassard and his impact on the game?
STEPAN: Oh, I mean, good thing for us is he steps up big time and probably when our group needed it. Mostly their line was phenomenal all night, and Brass is a guy that this time of the year seems to really be a big part of our team. He always seems to raise his game when the game has more importance to it. It was great to see he played at a really high level, and we’re going to need that line to do it again.
Q: Brass said that coach challenged him and you, is that what was needed?
STEPAN: I mean, I think it was more of a conversation more than a challenge. I mean, it was all — the whole conversation went in the way that I felt our coach, in a sense, did challenge us. But at the same time, this series is so close that there’s not much separating the two teams. So he wanted that extra push from me and Brass, and Brass responded in a way that I think A.V. really wanted him to and our group really needed him to. I think it was a good coaching move by A.V. to kind of come in and at least have a conversation with us and kind of push us to get to that next level.
Q: Experience manifests itself. Was that a factor last night?
STEPAN: I’m not really sure. I think our group didn’t really — throughout the game, even from the drop of the puck and when Tampa really was pushing hard on us, we didn’t really have any panic. We made sure we stuck to our game. I think that goes with our experience. Being in that situation before, keeping our wits about us and just keep playing our game is what made us successful through the whole season. But other than being in that situation and understanding what it takes mentally, there is not much else you can take from the experience of being there before. I think knowing how to handle yourself is probably the biggest thing you can take from it.
Q: Consistency in which you’ve been able to avoid elimination, is that about the group personality?
STEPAN: Yeah, that’s a good way to put it. We always talk about our core group just relaxing and playing the game. I think that’s a good way to put it. We have a group that, the way our personalities work, we just somehow find a way to have the right mindset going into these games. Obviously you talk about eliminations games and your biggest player sometimes has to be your goaltender, and you talk about his numbers in elimination games, you know, off the charts. I think the core guys and the core guy kind of leads the charge.
Q: You think Tyler Johnson is frustrated at this point?
STEPAN: I think he’s played really good hockey through this series, so I’m not so sure that he’s that frustrated, maybe a little bit last night. But two days to regroup yourself and it comes down to one game. So both teams are going to bring their best, and I don’t expect anything but Tampa’s top guys’ best game of the year.
Q&A: RICK NASH
Q: How much fun is it to have a Game 7 at home?
RICK NASH: It’s a lot of fun. You obviously want to win the series in four, but when it comes down to a Game 7, I feel like these are things that you dream about and you pretend you’re playing hockey on the ice by yourself or road hockey when you were a kid. It’s just one of those experiences that’s tough to put into words.
Q: Is it stressful as well?
NASH: Yeah, it can be stressful. Reality is the game is coming no matter what, and you might as well turn that stress into energy and controlled emotions. So it’s a tough balance, for sure.
Q: Seems like one game has nothing to do with the next. What do you expect from a Game 7?
NASH: Yeah, hopefully that trend ends and we can keep the momentum from last game, but I would expect a tight game. It seems like all Game 7s are pretty tight, pretty defensive and tight checking.
Q: How do you take the offense and bring it to MSG?
NASH: Yeah, I think it’s a matter of playing better defence and getting their offense from that. It seems like we know when we’re here we’re going to get a big push from the other team, and we’re going to make sure we’re defensively sound. I think sometimes at MSG, we’re just worried about getting offense, getting opportunities, getting chances and then we get exposed defensively.
Q: What’s it like knowing you’re in this situation and have the goaltender you do?
NASH: Yeah, it’s a huge sense of confidence, I guess, and his comments, as we talked about last night, kind of carries through our whole team. We’re lucky to have a goalie like that, and he’s the leader of our team, so I’m sure he’ll step up.
Q: Brassard said you were looking for him all night. Have you ever seen him play that way?
NASH: Yeah, I don’t think I’ve seen him score five points before. He had an impressive night, and seemed like he was possessed right from the start of the game. You could tell he was around the puck, he was forechecking, and he was finding himself open a lot off the back door. He’s working for his opportunities. Since he’s come to New York, he’s really turned into a premier centre.
Q: Pressure. You think your game is stepping up because of it?
NASH: Yeah, there is always. Always. I feel pressure all the time. I think our team has felt pressure since Game 1 of the season to perform, so it’s no different in Game 7, even like you said, it’s going to be more pressure, and we’ve got to turn that pressure into a challenge.
