The Columbus Blue Jackets are officially on a winning streak. After winning their fourth straight game, the team was in an expectedly cordial mood.
Here's what the players and coaches had to say following the big win.
John Tortorella
On the improved play of his defense corps: "I just think guys are finding their games. Murr's (Ryan Murray) gotten healthy; the addition of Ian Cole has put us into some pairs that we're really comfortable with, and I think they're comfortable playing with one another. I just think our team is feeling better about itself, and it starts with our back end. I thought they did a great job of that. Ian Cole has solidified, at least from the coaches point of view, just our confidence, in playing all three periods. It doesn't matter who they're playing against, so I think it just allows them to play."
On his team's attitude regarding playoff positioning: "We talked about that before the season, in that our young defenseman stated 'why are we looking behind us, let's look ahead.' As you keep on putting points up on the board as we've done here as of late, yeah, you've gotta start looking that way... I'm looking at Sunday's practice. Don't get caught up in the numbers, don't get caught looking ahead, don't worry about what happened in the back. Just worry about the next day. I think we're beginning to find a little bit of a gel with our team... I think everybody's contributing. If they want to talk about looking ahead, I think that's the right idea. I'm looking to Sunday."
On the lack of respect around the league regarding Seth Jones: "He gets none. I know the coaches (around the league), I know what they feel about (him)... I just, there's nothing you can do about it, but he's one hell of a player. He's going to get noticed. He'll get noticed, the points he's putting up right now... He's got such a great role, and the growth of him in the past couple of years, he has just taken off. He knows there's more to his game, and that's the most important thing. So all that other stuff will come, in due time."
Seth Jones
On the offense coming from him and Zach Werenski: "We're just playing hockey, we're having fun, we're being aggressive. It's not rocket science the way play, we've been trying to play the same way all year. Get pucks to the net, be up the ice on the forecheck, be aggressive, and I think that's been our mindset for the most part. I think when the team was struggling a little bit, we took a step back, in my opinion, and we focused on the defensive side of the puck a little bit more as a team, as a whole. Now our confidence is back, we're slowly getting that back. I think it's important for our 'D' to be on the rush, to join and make things happen. It's a five man group of offense, now."
On the team continuing to play at this level: "I think we've just got to keep playing the right way. We're not doing anything we knew we couldn't do. Everyone's contributing right now; it's going to have to stay that way."
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