"While you're fighting for a playoff spot, you might as well try to get the best spot possible."

"I think there was a big transition in Canada, having younger guys being part of Team Canada now. I think it's nice we had a chance to perform with each other. At least you don't come in and it's a brand-new atmosphere. Now Team Canada has been doing these pre-Olympic training camps in the summer also, where we got together. I think everybody's really anxious to see each other again."

"He's a young guy. When you have the privilege of playing for the greatest hockey country, there are only so many players. It's not that he's not worth being there, it's just because he's in a situation that Team Canada has a new wave of young players."

"[Devils netminder Martin Brodeur said the team is prepared for Stevens' absence, having learned how to play without him for much of the last NHL season.] We got used to not having him around, ... We really have a sense of what it's going to be like without Scott Stevens. At the same time we're going to have to learn about life without Scott Niedermayer, too. It's two tough blows to take..."

"[Starting for the Canadian Olympic team has given Martin Brodeur a distinct advantage. He was the first goalie to get the NHL's newly legislated smaller pads, pants, and other gear.] Goalies that like to react to pucks won't have a problem, ... Those goalies that block shots instead of stopping shots, will find it's going to be a little tougher for them, especially in close."

"We battled back from 20 points down. The guys were hustling, working and playing together. They had some energy. The game was right there. All we had to do was finish it and we didn't finish it."

"There's no excuse for playing that poorly in the first half, ... But it is two halves."

"They win a lot of close games, that's what they do."

"I think Ellis is an explosive athlete."

"The other area is certainly an area for debate. We'll just have to see it plays out. I understand both sides of the argument."

"I thought we were better on defense, and it allowed us to get out on the break more consistently. I think it was important for us to get a split just so the kids will get some confidence in themselves and what we're doing."

"It's got us all frustrated. The first part of the game we couldn't get back on defense. Then in the second half, we couldn't guard them when they were in front of us."

"We get back ahead get control of the game but we can't sustain it. Yao is a problem for us and no matter what we did we were in trouble."

"It's hard. The teams we are playing are all vying for playoff spots. They all have incentives."

"Everybody on our team sure liked Matt. He works hard and he makes open shots and it seems to me like he's playing with more confidence."

"He's a steadying influence, ... He just keeps the ball in his hands and guys know that he'll be able to get them the ball."

"It's a cumulative thing. The last how many games, how many was there a shot to win at the end? And we didn't get any of them. I think these kids deserve a win. It's discouraging and doesn't feel very good. These guys deserve a win."

"I think our players deserved that win. We've been through so many games where at the end we haven't made a play and now Jason steps up and hits a huge shot."

"At practice yesterday we could barely get 94 feet we were so tired. We just couldn't run and it carried over to today. The break really took its tool on us and Jason (Richardson) is a little under the weather. Troy is coming back from about 2 1/2 weeks of not being able to do anything."

"He's been well coached having Roy Williams and Bill Self. They put him in position where he understands how to do things. But again, coming in here with some pretty good players and being able to hold his own like he has, it's pretty impressive. He's not backed off. He's been tough. He's shown leadership."

"I think we were desperate. That's the way we've got to play every night. We don't have much margin for error."

"That's good for his confidence, ... Not only the game, but the shootout."

"Since the beginning, I always loved the game. When you grow up in Montreal, one day you want to be a professional hockey player. When I was six or seven, I knew that was what I wanted."

"It's up to the community now to decide if they want to keep this team."