Darren McCarty Quotations

We're at 73 points now and if in 25 games we can tack on at least 30, maybe 32 or 34, that puts us at 103 to 107. That should be pretty good.

Old times. Just messing around. I think he was a little upset so I had to try to put a smile on his face.

He was the X-factor in that series. We just couldn't get the puck behind him.

Guys are always banged up. Guys are always playing with something, if not five or six things. It's just a way of life.

You just want everybody to bring what they bring. For me, it's good to be excited and relaxed. It's tough to do that but a lot of guys in this room have Game 7 experience. It's just about winning a hockey game.

Usually with our 100-and-some-point runs, playing in the Central Division, you had it wrapped up.

We came out pretty good and tried to establish a physical presence. It's one of those games we had a chance to go up two goals, but didn't do it. It's frustrating.

We played a little more physical and made it tougher for them. But the big game is (Thursday) and that can really set the momentum for the rest of the series.

To be able to score four goals, let alone all power-play goals, should of been enough for us to win and for whatever reason we just had a complete breakdown defensively tonight.

As far as the gambling debts on there, not one cent was any type of sports betting. It's just something obviously I'm not proud of because it drags a lot of other people into this than I'd want. It's something I'm continuing to deal with.

When you play teams that are good defensively and teams that have been there with experience, the object is to keep the goals against down.

It's disappointing being a Canadian and having friends on that team but that's the way it goes. It's the Olympics. It's disappointing for every Canadian but over the years you've seen the parity with all the teams because it's the best players in the world.

I'm a firm believer that everything in life works out the way it's supposed to. And who knows? I figure I've got a few years left (in the NHL) and maybe I can come back in the end.

They do a lot of talking, but I'm not sure they actually understand each other.

The only thing that would have been funnier is if he picked up a bottle and took a drink of water like nothing happened.

That's what prime-time players do. They want the ball, they want the puck. It's what separates the elite from the great.

The way the hockey gods work, maybe that was supposed to be his night and my night.

This is the time that counts -- you can really set yourself up. This is when you see teams start to pull away. But you've got to push through a lot of things. But a lot of times, when you play a lot, you can get into a groove. You play so much, the good things carry over. That's the positive aspect of it.

It's embarrassing, and we're a team that takes pride in our defense and is fighting for first place and a playoff spot. To come in with a performance like that, especially after battling back and scoring late in the first and tying it up, and battling back a couple times in the second, all in all is definitely a low point in the season.

It's a little bit weird having to play them the last game of the year and then start out with them in the playoffs.

It's not like a lull. It's just the way the game is. You're not going to win every game and have a little letdown but the difference between good teams and bad teams is how quickly you get out of it, how quickly you regroup and realize you're in a slide and get back on the ball before it goes on.

The best thing about the playoffs is a lot of the times, different guys get to step up and share the limelight for a night. Your studs and your top guys are going to usually get it as they deserve it most of the time. But it's nice to chip in when you can.

It went quick, it was like a wedding day. It just blew by.

I knew I had 20 playoff goals and a quarter of them are game-winners, so I had to get ahead of that.

I'm just happy I hit the net. I'm happy I didn't mess that up. When it happens bang-bang like that, you have less time to mess up because you don't have time to think.

If you ask anyone in here or on most of the teams that play against him out in the West, he should be on the roster. He shouldn't be a replacement or a sub. He should be playing.

I know if my head's down, he's going to get me, too. We laughed about it. It was fun just to see those guys.

He's an intense guy. When we step on the ice, we know one way to play.

For the full two minutes, they were in our end and Kipper made save after save. I was joking with him that after the first period last game, he had like two shots and so I'd take the five-on-three just so he could get into it early.

The focus now is Edmonton. They're battling for their lives.

The good thing is, of the four times we've played them, we've played them twice (in the last week). They're a team that's coming into the playoffs on a hot streak . . . to solidify a (playoff) position.

You've got to pay special attention to both of them, and I thought everybody did a good job not giving them time and space. When you give guys with that talent time and space, they'll make great plays. We did a really good job in the neutral zone, not letting them skate with the puck.