Jeff Gorton today on hiring Marty St. Louis back in 2022: “He was willing to (become the Habs interim coach) for basically free for the last three months of the season.”
Lane Hutson today when asked if he cares what his critics say about his defensive game: “I don’t really care at all. I care more about just internally, trying to help the team win and kill plays. I care more about what my teammates think or coaches…”
Habs captain Nick Suzuki today on the 1st line before their ECF playoff matchup vs the Hurricanes: “5 on 5, we definitely gotta produce more if we want to keep moving forward. It’s not one big thing that’s missing, it’s little plays here and there. I think all three of us can do a better job…”
Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour today on Habs PP1: “They got dynamic players. All five of those guys in their own right are elite at what they do (Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky, Demidov & Hutson). You put them together in those roles and I think they feed off each other really well…”
MSL when asked what was going through his mind after the Habs series win last night: “Well I was talking to my mom a lot during that overtime. I just wanted to thank her.”
Habs game 7 overtime hero Alex Newhook yesterday: “I’m very proud to be from Newfoundland and Labrador, to be able to represent my province on the biggest stage here in the playoffs. I’m sure everyone back home is having a great time right now.”
Habs coach Marty St. Louis on turning the page to game 7 after an 8-3 playoff loss: “I feel like we’ve been good at bouncing forward and that’s what we intend to do. It wasn’t our best tonight.”
Habs captain Nick Suzuki after the 8-3 playoff loss: “It’s disappointing to have this effort on home ice. We can’t let that be our last game here. We gotta do everything we can to forget about it and be ready for game 7.”
Habs coach Marty St. Louis on enjoying life everyday: "You have choices. If you don't wanna get bothered and really live life, then you stay home and do nothing. That's not my type (of life). I go out to dinner a lot, I walk to the rink, I'm okay to be going around and getting stopped for pictures…”
MSL today on his game day routine: “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into it…You try to make sure everyone is in a good place mentally. You try to get some downtime…And yes, I watch Seinfeld, take a nap, and then you get going.”
MSL today on his team playing playoff hockey in May: “It’s always a good sign the warmer it gets. It means that you’re still alive, you’re still kicking. That’s fun. We gotta keep going.”
Lane Hutson on Ivan Demidov: “It’s pretty funny. Not even on the ice, even in general, away from the rink, we do similar things. We’re roommates, so whenever it’s time to shut it down, everything’s on schedule. We’re doing the same things…It’s all business on the road.”
Reporter: “Do you bug (Cole Caufield) about his nickname, Mr. Saturday Night?” Lane Hutson: “Do I bug him? No. I mean it’s his title. I like it, I don’t mind it.”
Ivan Demidov yesterday on his Habs road roommate Lane Hutson: “His work ethic is incredible. We just push each other. It’s always fun to be around him and spend time with him.”
MSL today when asked if there is a “psychological advantage” on keeping Jakub Dobes in net while the Sabres pulled their goalie: “I never thought about that even once. I’m focused (on my team).”
Jakub Dobes yesterday on the vote of confidence from Habs coach Marty St. Louis: “I told him: ‘Thank you for letting me in (the game) and trying to prove myself. It’s a big part, having trust of your coach. I will never disrespect it. I appreciate it…”
Lane Hutson on his roommate Ivan Demidov: “He’s such a gifted offensive player. I try to tell him to keep playing the same way. He was getting his chances, creating a lot for (others). It was only a matter of time. I just told him: ‘Trust yourself and play your game…’ It’s nice to see him get one.”
Habs captain Nick Suzuki on Jakub Dobes: “I just think he’s super confident in himself. He puts the work in off the ice to have his mental training where it needs be. He’s a fighter, he wants to be in the battle with the guys. He’s got the perfect kind of attitude in a goalie for sure.”
MSL on leaving Jakub Dobes in the game after his 3rd goal allowed: “We spoke to our goalie coach Marco (Marciano) and we asked him his opinion, and he said: ‘Leave him in.’ So we left him in.”