The Blue Jackets, at 6-3-0, have equaled their best nine-game start in franchise history after a 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday night. Following the win, Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella and his players addressed the media.
Here's a collection of quotes from inside the dressing room:
JOHN TORTORELLA
On the game overall:
It was a slopfest, that’s what it was. All over. If Bob didn’t play the way he played in the first period, it could’ve been reversed a little bit. In the first period, we did nothing right and nothing with a workman-type attitude.
On the second period goals:
We always talk about momentum and surges. How you handle it when they’re coming against you, and when they’re on your side. I think when you score a goal, you can hear the guys on the bench. It’s a concentration, something we talk about before the game and it’s a big part of winning and losing in the National Hockey League.
On making more line changes:
I found some lines tonight, by the third time I changed them. But I found some lines. You can get criticized for changing lines, but I’m not going to sit there and watch us play and watch lines struggle to make plays or over-pass or a number of different things.
On Sergei Bobrovsky’s breakaway save:
Huge play in the game. “Z” kind of gets a little too close and hand-cuffed…that’s a huge play. Who knows where it goes, the way we were playing? It’s about trying to find ways to win.
On Boone Jenner's night:
He’s done the job on the wall. We put him on the power play tonight, he did his job there. He’s killing penalties. He’s come right in —and for a guy that’s missed so much time — has been put in all kinds of situations and succeeded. He’s been one our best players in all situations.
SETH JONES
On bouncing back with a win:
We had a lot of ups and downs in this game. We didn’t start the first period great, but in the second and third we did the job, and found a way to put pucks in the net. The way we needed to play defense wasn’t there in the first…we gave them a lot of ice to play on. Once we started doing those things, we take over and start transitioning to offense.
On Boone Jenner’s performance:
The power play goal doesn’t happen without him there — and that’s what we need more of. He’s an engine of our team. He drives us forward, whether it’s a big hit on the forecheck, a blocked shot — he’s leading our team in blocked shots (among) forwards. He does a lot of different things for us. We’re lucky to have him.
SERGEI BOBROVSKY
On feeling locked in tonight:
I felt pretty good. We dropped a couple at home, lose two games in a row, and tonight was the biggest game of the season for us. We worked hard and we did our best.
On the second period outburst:
That’s the teamwork that we take each other’s back. Most important is the logo on the chest, you know, and that’s what we work for.
On losing the shutout late in regulation:
It’s sad a little bit, but it’s okay. It’s hockey. Sometimes it happens. I’ll take the win, always.
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