SHARKSPAGE

WCF Game 3: Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Antti Niemi post-game press conference comments

THORNTON, MARLEAU, NIEMI AT POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

SAN JOSE SHARKS GOALTENDER ANTTI NIEMI POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

SAN JOSE SHARKS ALTERNATE CAPTAIN PATRICK MARLEAU POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE

Post-game comments by captain Joe Thornton:

(On difference playing Sedin line more than Kesler line) They are both centerman, both good lines. We try to play the same way, it doesn’t matter what line we play against. To be honest with you it was as normal a game for us, go out and work hard and try to produce. Todd (McLellan) never tells us who we are playing against. If we are not starting, he will yell down and say ‘hey, you got this line’. That is pretty much it.

(The fourth goal) Very important. 5-on-3, they didn’t capitalize on theirs. You never know, it is 3-1 at that point. You really don’t know at that point that the goal is going to be the game winner. You take every shift in, I just saw Patty, and Boyle worked it back and forth. Good shot, I think right under the crossbar. Patrick made a perfect pass over, and Boyle got all of it I guess.

Every game for us right now is game 7. We realize how important tonight was. Next game is going to be more important. Ever game for us is going to be game 7, we realize what’s at stake. The guys showed up, fans were into it, they gave us an extra boost. We know the importance of winning tonight.

We just had our legs (in the first period). The puck was in, we were getting back and we drew some penalties. When we got our power play, we executed well. Just putting pucks behind (their d) and retreiving pucks, we did that early.

(Is it important dominating the first and third periods?) We are just after wins.

Post-game comments by alternate captain Patrick Marleau:

Things are just starting to go in. I am playing with some good players obviously, best passer in the league, and getting to some good areas. He is finding me, and the pucks are starting to go in.

It is nice to produce and help the team win, but what it boils down to you do whatever it takes to win. I think each line played really well tonight, we are going to need that again in the next game.

I think each line was going good (in the first period). We were forechecking and that is why we were able to get those penalties, draw those penalties and allow us to go out there and score those goals.

Post-game comments by goaltender Antti Niemi:

(On the 5-on-3) I thought we had a really compact three guys there. We were able to keep them on the outside. We did a pretty good job on that.