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Stars Off-Day Press Conference
by Paul on 05/11/08 at 05:33 PM ET
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An Interview With: D. Tippett, M. Modano, M. Ribeiro, M. Turco, B. Richards…
Q Hear anything on Ribeiro?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Haven’t heard anything from the league yet, no.
Q How do you prepare if you don’t hear anything until tomorrow?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: We’ll hear something today. I don’t suspect anything. I suspect he’ll be a player. Looking at the situation, I can’t see how it would be a suspension, myself, but that’s for them to figure out. And from our side, I’m going to prepare like Ribeiro’s a player and move forward.
Q What about Lehtinen?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Lehtinen is day-to-day, so we’ll see where he is tomorrow.
Q Do you know what play he got hurt on or what happened?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: There wasn’t one. There was speculation when Brenden ran into him. It wasn’t that one, it was later in the game.
Q Did he twist something?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Yeah, just soft tissue stuff. So it’s one of those ones it’s hard to get a grasp on. We’ll see how he is in the morning.
Q Every playoff series has emotions. How much do you expect them to be heightened regardless of what happens with Ribeiro?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Ours has to be heightened. I thought we took a step forward in getting ourselves back into the competitive issues of the series last game, but it will still have to go up another step.
I thought we had much better jump. Our legs looked like they were back to normal a little bit. Now we need some more execution. And we had some good opportunities. We didn’t capitalize on them. We talked about this is a fine line we’re walking here.
For us to win, we’ve got to have a lot of things go right for us, and some of those opportunities that we get we got to find a way to capitalize on.
Our discipline factor was better last game, other than the last couple of penalties. But we didn’t give them much on the power play. We have to find ways to win games and get opportunities, we’ve got to capitalize on them.
Q You guys won Games 1 and 2 on the road in the series. You mentioned about the chances, is there frustration coming back home?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: There’s frustration in losing. Every time you lose, it’s frustrating. We’re in the winning business. When you don’t win, it’s frustrating. But we think we took a step forward in the series last night. Like I say, just our competitive levels were a lot higher than Game 1. We think that’s a positive. And coming home, the emotion of our fans, we’re looking at Game 3, we’ve got to go out and win a hockey game and get ourselves back in the series.
That’s our sole focus today.
Q When you’re at home, you have certain details, you get stick down first on the faceoffs, you get the match, are those important things?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Yeah, they are. They become factors. The faceoff issue is something that we’re talking a lot about, because we have to get better. It’s not just the guys in the faceoff. It’s the compete levels around those.
Those are issues we’ll certainly try to take more advantage at home.
Q Did you like the pairs you guys put out there on defense?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: Not bad. We were juggling around a little bit as the game went on, but like I say, I thought our game as a whole was better last night, but it will have to go up a little.
Q You’ve been counted out before this year. Does your team find some motivation in being in that position?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: I think so. The underdog, when you have key injuries to key people, our philosophy all year long, that’s not an excuse for not winning. And we have injuries but we want to find ways to win hockey games. We feel if we go out to win a game tomorrow, we’re back in the series.
That’s our focus. Whether we have Barnes or Lehtinen or Boucher, we have to focus on winning a hockey game, how are we going to do it and where we’re going to have to, what kind of effort it’s going to take to do it. Like I say, that’s our sole focus right now.
Q Is there anything new on Barnes?
COACH DAVE TIPPETT: No. He won’t be a player tomorrow. We’ll just take it day-by-day with him, again.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Coach.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q So what’s the mind-set as you come back home, especially after last night where you did have some opportunities?
MIKE MODANO: Well, we felt better about last night’s game. I think the effort we felt was much better than Game 1. Like we discussed, just a little more execution, a little more getting hungry around their net.
And you don’t get too many opportunities against them. That’s obvious, being the best team in the league, about goals against them.
So when you do get opportunities, you just have to try to bear down and make the most of them.
Q Mike, what are they doing differently against your line and Richard’s line than, say, your first two opponents did in this playoffs?
MIKE MODANO: They’ve got a lot of depth. They skate well, defend well. They’re great without the puck, and obviously really good with it. So they just have a lot of areas that are really strong. But I’d say having those four lines that contribute, can attack the net, and play well in their own zone.
That’s what teams that have won in the past have had. And obviously, that’s why they are where they are. We’ve had a fortunate start to the playoffs because our power play was so good. And this team’s obviously much more disciplined. They’re a better skating team, which doesn’t allow them to take many penalties.
Q Is it more what they’re doing or just maybe you not capitalizing on some opportunities?
MIKE MODANO: It’s tough to say. It’s probably a little bit of both. Obviously, like I said, they’re really good without it. They defend well. They’re good on the puck. They take time and space away because of their ability to skate. So it’s a combination.
I think just making that one extra play offensively in their zone, some execution, like I said, and a little bit more ability to make a play one more time, if you do it to beat a guy in your zone.
Q If you guys are at home, you get a couple of advantages, you get stick down first in faceoffs, you get the line changes. Are those the details that could help you make up the difference?
MIKE MODANO: Possibly. I mean, a lot of talk has been discussed about the faceoffs, and last night we had about 10 or 12 that were fifty/fifty, but their wingers are really good at collapsing in the circle and helping out and getting possession of the puck, which is usually a big key to any team’s success to generate offense or get it out of your zone defensively.
But it’s a key area that we’re going to try to get better at.
Q Obviously, emotions and feistiness are always part of the playoffs and how much more do you think it gets heightened as this goes on?
MIKE MODANO: That’s probably the most you’re going to see of it last night, hopefully. Obviously, frustration boiling over and not being able to control your emotions. But they’re not a very physical team by any means, but they do play the game. They play with the puck so well. And for us to try to get into some street fight ain’t going to work.
You have to play the game of hockey and right now, they’re doing it better than us.
Q If you lose Ribeiro or Lehtinen or both, how do you compensate?
MIKE MODANO: Obviously, you bring Richards in the mold a little bit more, give him more ice time. Everybody having to pick it up, Hagman and Lehtinen. And Louie and Lundqvist have to find the type of play they had early in the playoffs. Those are big holes if they’re missed. That would take a lot of guys to fill that.
Q You said they’re not a physical team, does that make them a tougher team to dislike? Sometimes you get those matchups in the playoffs where you hate the team, are the Wings a team tough to hate?
MIKE MODANO: Not really (laughter). They’ve always been tough. They do take the body at times. They have some guys who play strong and make some hits, but they’re not ones to get sucked into any undisciplined situations or react or get into kind of like, a street fight, like I said. So they play smart. They play hard between the whistles, and they’re not retaliating at all. So the more we try to drag them into that situation, I think the worst it’s going to be for us.
Q Can you talk a bit about Brenden and what’s made him a good captain for this team?
MIKE MODANO: He’s really grown into it quickly. I think he’s really set out to prove a lot of people that obviously they made a right decision to do that. And he feels that he’s coming of age where there’s a lot of responsibility on him to come and play every night. And certainly it does come when you have that responsibility as a captain.
But he’s been really good. He’s been tough to handle in the playoffs, and that whole line. But he certainly has led by example with the way he plays and the sacrifice he’s made.
Q It had to have been an uncomfortable situation for him with you here and having been the captain. Can you talk about how he handled that part of it?
MIKE MODANO: Really good. I’ve always said I probably should have never had it to begin with. I think the move should have been right to Brenden at the time. And I think Doug, at the time, didn’t really know what to do. I think it was more of possibly just a seat-filler I had at the Oscars temporarily kind of thing.
But he’s been around for a while. He’s obviously playing with, having Guy around and Ludwig and Keane and guys that he’s been able to be around for a lot of years. But he’s his own guy. He’s a real quiet guy. Doesn’t get into too much verbally. But his actions speak louder than words.
Q Easy day for him today (laughter)?
MIKE MODANO: I don’t know. For him it is, yeah. His wife, probably not.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q Mike, have you talked to the league yet about last night and do you expect to?
MIKE RIBEIRO: No, I didn’t talk to them. Expect, I don’t know if it was that bad of a slashing to be talked to. But no one called me yet.
Q How did you see the whole play develop, because some people are saying it was a bit of a butt end by Chris when you came by the net. How did the play unfold?
MIKE RIBEIRO: A little bit. I think if you did a replay, he actually tries to do it. It’s not like he accidentally hit me. He kind of was bent down, raised up and clipped me in the face.
So if he doesn’t do that, I don’t think I react, I have no reason to do what I did. So a little bit of frustration and emotion in the game. But like I mentioned, I think it was more dangerous what he tried to do than what I did.
Q You don’t expect any discipline?
MIKE RIBEIRO: No. Well, if they do suspend me for one game, hopefully they suspend him for two games.
Q When you hit him, did you think you hurt him?
MIKE RIBEIRO: No. He gets shots harder than my slash. I think on the moment it looked worse than it really is. If you look at the replay, I don’t think even a player can get hurt with that.
Q You mentioned some frustration. How much frustration is there? You guys were up 2-0 after playing on the road the first two series and down 2 now. How frustrated are you?
MIKE RIBEIRO: It doesn’t matter what you do in first rounds, it matters what you do now. The team didn’t lose yet at home, and it’s part of the playoffs. It’s part of a series of seven games, and you don’t expect to win all the games on the road.
And it’s time now to come home and win the next game.
Q How do you do that? Does being at home help, whether that’s winning faceoffs or getting line changes or just getting fired up by the crowd?
MIKE RIBEIRO: I mean, I think we had a lot of chances yesterday to score one or two goals on those chances. I think first period we have six, seven chances, no shot on net.
So details and if you keep working, I think we can work a little harder and then when you have a chance to shoot on net, shoot on net.
Q Jiri is out, how much of an adjustment is that? He adds so much especially, with you and Morrow on the line?
MIKE RIBEIRO: If he’s going to be out, he’s going to be out. Other players will step up. I think we played half of the year with Miettinen. It might be him. We don’t know yet if Lehtinen is going to be out or no. We’ll wait till tomorrow and see. If he’s out, there’s other players to step up.
I think during the year we had a lot of defense. Lundqvist was out for a while and we managed to win some games. So come playoff time, if you lose a player, it’s other players to step it up.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q Happy to be home?
MARTY TURCO: Of course. Great weather. Mother’s Day. See the kids. And down 0-2, where else would you want to be but home.
Q How comfortable are you in this building, or in the other building you’ll be playing in tomorrow?
MARTY TURCO: I’ve been comfortable in all buildings.
In the NHL my whole career, there’s nothing like being in the blue paint and the crease. For me, always big challenges, but we’ve had some exciting times already in year at home. You just look to the most recent game. Our fans sticking around to the wee hours. It was a lot of fun. We’re expecting more grand times for our fans and for us, and we just need it, simple as that, to get back into the series.
Q Do you think when you go there you’ll feel that from Game 6, the memory, the energy, the aura, whatever it was that was there?
MARTY TURCO: Yeah, it’s not that far. It happened. It’s only been a week since Game 6 of the last series. It was that big. It’s not a game that you can forget or you even want to forget.
But the reality is where we are in the series, the team that we’re playing and the challenge that’s ahead of us. But a challenge there, immediately after the game in Detroit, one that we felt the most confidence right after that game, talking amongst each other, still with our equipment on, the chance that we have. We know it’s a hole we dug but one that we’re pretty sure we can get out of and we’re going to need to at home with our fans.
Q What other details, like being at home, whether that being in faceoff, matching lines, those things that can help you out?
MARTY TURCO: I’m sure they would. Yeah, home ice, it’s there for a reason. Faceoff, we haven’t been great. I’m sure that will help. But at the end of the day we just need to help ourselves. The way we can, we need to play with some vigor and intensity from start to finish.
And we’ve been growing in this series against these guys. We know it’s been a lot closer than anybody gives us credit for. That’s a good feeling to have in the locker room, regardless of what others say or do, and it’s going to be pretty interesting game come tomorrow night.
Q Dave and Mike both said they don’t expect any suspension. After looking at the tape, are you the same way?
MARTY TURCO: Well, just not this time of year. I don’t think they’ll suspend Osgood at all.
Q Marty, can I ask you about Brenden and what’s made him a good captain in this league?
MARTY TURCO: Brenden’s been such a warrior for us over the years, and ever since he played in the 2000 finals for this team as a rookie, he had the taste of getting close and not winning.
And all he’s ever wanted to be, you know, one spoke in the wheel, and he’s grown to be a pretty important one for us. He’s never said that he has been a leader by words. He doesn’t ever plan on telling anybody what to do. His actions have spoken quite loudly over the years, particularly this playoffs, of how important he is for us to be successful and the heart-and-soul type player that he is.
You just don’t see those type players come along very often. And we’re fortunate to have him playing the way he is, what he means to this team and his leadership is humbling and it’s a direct reflection of how this team likes to play.
Q I’m guessing it was probably awkward for him at times with Mike still being here, taking it over from Mike. How did he handle that situation?
MARTY TURCO: Well, Mike and Brenden are great friends. They’ve become close over the years, so that really wasn’t too difficult. Mike wasn’t a rah, rah leader in the locker room. It wasn’t that Brenden had to speak over him. And the transition kind of helped Brenden take his time and the expectations of him to just do it overnight and wisp it away from anybody, wasn’t the case.
We’ve talked about leadership by committee around here, that Brenden doesn’t have to do it by himself. It’s true. And that came from the transition of captain seat from Mike to Brenden. It wasn’t just going to be an overnight success or just him being comfortable at all.
It took some time for some healing and for everybody to just maybe get used to it. And it’s been a good one for this club.
Q How is a day like this for him, especially since it’s a tough time in the series and everything?
MARTY TURCO: Yeah, I think maybe for all that’s happened in Detroit, and I know he needs a little time away from the rink just from his, he’s been hurt, as hard as he’s been going and just the thought of bringing two new lives in this world in one day on Mother’s Day, I can’t imagine a better feeling. I texted him earlier that I was thinking of him and can’t wait to find out how everything went and make sure it’s great and to be part of it. He’s always been a lucky guy. We are a lucky group to have him around and this is a special day for him and his family.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q Brad, what has Detroit done differently against your line and maybe Mike’s line than, say, your first two opponents did?
BRAD RICHARDS: They’re a good team. I think the first game, as our lines as a team, we weren’t creative enough. We were a little bit yesterday. But we definitely have to take it another step now and get some goals and propel the team to a win.
Obviously, it’s big matchups, both games it’s been pretty much 100% matchup, those two lines against their top two lines. There hasn’t been much either way, but we have to find a way on home ice to win the game for our team.
Q Has it been more what they’ve done or more the fact you haven’t capitalized on some opportunities?
BRAD RICHARDS: They do good things. They’re a disciplined team the way they play. And as far as Mike’s line, he’s playing against good players, Lidstrom, and I think that’s where we gotta take advantage of some opportunities. The first shift of the last game we had an opportunity right away and went off Loui’s stick and missed the net, those are opportunities in games where we’ve got to, maybe before we capitalized and got that lead or got that momentum.
So we’re going to need something from our line, especially to get some good feeling in the line and then, like I said, try to help the team out.
Q Can being at home help you guys in the faceoff a bit?
BRAD RICHARDS: Yeah, I think it’s going to help. And also, I think we looked at it, the coaching staff, and we talked as lines, how there’s a lot of loose pucks being tied up. They did a lot of tying up. They have all lefties, as do we. On our offside, there’s a lot of tie-ups and we’re not winning enough of those. And that’s partly center, partly the wingers coming in their own zone defense. We’ve got to be on the same page and win those team battles.
And that’s something we definitely gotta clean up. And it will help coming in second into the faceoff, that’s always an advantage.
Q Do you think the emotional level of this series is going to keep going up or do you think everything is going to be kind of tempered from here, now, given how emotional everything was?
BRAD RICHARDS: Usually every game gets more emotional. That’s the way it is. It’s only two games in. We just came off an emotional series. First game it’s tough to get it back up after you’ve seen a team the way we did for so long. The more you play each other, especially with all the matchups going on, you’ll see a lot of the same people in your face a lot.
So it will end up that’s the way it should be.
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