It’s another travel day, with the Tampa Bay Lightning holding off the Colorado Avalanche for an important Game 5 win to keep the season alive. Here’s what the teams had to say afterward:
– Nazem Kadri criticized the ice in Tampa Bay during Game 4. When asked about the ice, Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh said: “I haven’t noticed too much of a difference. Obviously, we’re pretty familiar with Amalie Arena. We’re pretty comfortable on that ice and out here it’s good ice as well. I haven’t noticed a difference in either location.”
– Patrick Maroon on going back home after a win with the team’s season still on the line: “I don’t think it’s confidence. It’s just work ethic. That’s it. We’ve just got to work hard. It’s a huge challenge in front of us. It’s an exciting challenge.” He added: “Just because we have home ice doesn’t mean s**t.”
– Lightning coach Jon Cooper on being prepared: “I’m not guaranteeing we’re going to win tomorrow, but I think our mindset and being in these situations before makes our preparation better.”
– After saying Darcy Kuemper had an OK game on Friday, Avalanche coach Jared Bednar had this to say on Saturday: “I would say our confidence level in Darcy is high. Has been all year. Hasn’t really changed.”
– Bednar said Valeri Nichushkin and J.T. Compher got “checked out” after Game 5 and should be good to go for Sunday.
– Bednar added that forward Andre Burakovsky will be on the trip to Tampa Bay and could be made available for Game 6 after getting injured earlier in the series.
– Tampa Bay has lost two games on the road during the Stanley Cup playoffs, including a Game 4 overtime loss earlier this week.
– The Avalanche have lost just once on the road, coming in Game 3.
