After dropping two games to begin the California road-trip, the Blue Jackets have responded with a pair of wins, most recently at the hands of the Vegas Golden Knights. Here's what the players and coaches had to say following the big win.
John Tortorella
On the play of Joonas Korpisalo: "I think one of the most important things is his team sees it. It's good for him, it's good for the coaches, more importantly it's good for the team. I've always said to you guys that the team likes playing in front of him. Past couple (of games), there's been a few struggles here and there, but he was solid right from the get go here tonight."
On Artemi Panarin's game: "I thought his game dipped a little bit, probably six or seven games ago. He's beginning to come alive here. He's just so strong on the puck; he's a competitor, he competes. He's a game-breaker."
On Panarin's leadership: I've relied on him and have poured him ice time. And he's a buck-seventy (pounds). He's not a big man; he plays big. And he plays in the (hard) areas all the time. I'm surprised he hasn't had more of them (slumps). I think I told you guys the story, when he went to Luc (Pierre-Luc Dubois) during one of the breaks we had in January, and told Luc make sure you get in the weight room, make sure you keep working. That's how he thinks. And that's why he's one of the top players in this league."
On his team's responding to adversity: "We had some struggles (chuckles). That's a tired hockey club. We're a tired team. Coming off the west coast, usually you have a couple of days, we have one day, coming back at it against one of the top teams in the league.... We find a way to win a game. I'll be honest with you, as a coach you get your schedule, and during the summer in July you look at it, and I call them 'we're screwed here', those type of games. That's one of them that you have circled, cause it is a tough turnaround coming off a west coast trip and coming right back to play. I am thrilled for the guys that they found a way."
Pierre-Luc Dubois
On the significance of the game: "It's a big win. We had a big win in San Jose, but we had to follow it up, especially with the position we're in. It feels really good."
On Korpisalo's game: "Pretty much every time he goes in, he's playing a good game. I think sometimes he's unlucky. We don't play our best hockey when he's playing well. So tonight for him to get that win, he had amazing saves tonight. He had key saves. I'm really excited for him."
On his comfort playing a physical game: "Ever since I was a kid, it's my style of play. It's who I am as a person on the ice. I think I'm two different people - one off the ice, one on the ice. But I'm used to it. Here, obviously it's bigger guys, but you get used to it eventually."
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