Eric Staal Quotations

We hear that, but it's a little soon because we haven't all played in the NHL.

We're happy with the way we're playing right now, but any time you can get a little bit of a break and get some rest to some guys and kind of lick your wounds, it's a good thing.

I don't think I've gotten any faster. I think just my stride has gotten more powerful. Just going wide, being able to drive to the net and get by the D, using the strength in my legs to get there. Kind of like the type of skater that Erik Cole is. He's got great speed, but he's got such a powerful stride, it makes him tough to stop.

I got a head of steam going when I picked his pass off and went the other way, ... It was just nice to get a win and get a couple of goals.

He's got no nerves. I don't know how he does it.

He's a very gifted offensive player. He's definitely helping me score goals. He's going to be able to find me on the ice, and I'm going to find him.

He's by far, I think, the best rookie this season. And he's going to be a great player for a long time.

He was awesome for us. Ottawa is one of the best teams in the league and anytime you can grind one out and win its great.

He just got his stick up and it kind of caught me. I've never lost a tooth, so it's a little bad like that, but I got it fixed up and got it done.

I was glad to still be playing. I got in a good year with a lot of minutes. Maybe some of the guys who didn't play had a harder time getting back into the groove.

It doesn't come by yourself, it comes with other guys that you play with and teammates. It's been a good year so far and obviously we need to finish strong, and I would like to finish strong and be ready for the playoffs.

I think I'm playing the wrong position because there's so many great players from Canada. They won Olympic gold last time. There's so many good players that are going to get a really good look. You never know. I'm just going to continue to do my best this year. I mean, if they give me a shot, they give me a shot. If not, maybe next time. I'm going to continue to push myself and be the best I can.

When that happens, you can feel it coming.

We needed the win. I didn't get as much wood on it as I would have liked, but I found the back of the net with a good screen in front.

We've definitely got to try to get pucks deep. We've got to play a much better North-South game.

The power-play goal was a big lift, ... It got us on the right track. And Hedi scored a big one after that at 18:36 of the second.

The puck's kind of finding me right now. Hopefully I can keep it going and help our team put points on the board.

We expect he'll come back for us. He's been there for us all year.

The way I'm playing right now, I'm coming with a lot of speed, the puck's flying for me and I'm going to keep it going as long as I can.

You never want to lose three games in a row, let alone going into a break. Go into the break and rejuvenate and come back and be ready to go.

The way our team's playing right now, you can't really count us out. I think the league's taking notice of that.

There were a lot of power plays tonight and we were finally able to get it done ? we'll take it.

They play us tough every time. They're always working hard and finishing their checks. They were able to stay around. It was just nice to get the win.

It's just bruised, I'll be all right. I'll play (Thursday) night.

It was a tough battle, and we ended up getting it done.

For him to ask me to go shake his hand on his farewell night, it was a little bit of a shock for me.

It's something I'll remember for a long time and something that's nice to accomplish.

It's definitely not the scenario we want every night. But we're going to take the wins as they come.

It was kind of a seeing-eye goal. We had a good screen in front of him and I don't think he saw it.

I've just been finding the back of the net. I've been getting a lot of chances and skating well, and I want to keep that going as long as I can.

It was a great win for us. I can't say anything less about Cole. (Playing well in front of Quinn, Canada's Olympic team coach) was not something I was focusing on, but wanted to make a difference.

It will be nice to get back home. We want first overall in our conference and first overall. We're going to try win every game from here on out. It's too bad we didn't get one tonight.

They've played two good games against us, and we wanted to come in here and prove to ourselves that we can beat that team, ... We know we've got a lot more games against them, so we have to keep getting better.

It's no fun losing your tooth or getting your face whacked with a stick, but it's nice to come back from two goals down to get the win ? no doubt.

Anytime you see a player accidentally make a play like that, you want to pick him up.

That's a tough call. I didn't feel much coming around the corner but that's the call he made.

I'm feeling more comfortable, more confident, ... I'm just feeling real good on the ice right now and the puck is finding me.

He stepped in there and did a great job, coming in off the bench isn't easy. We started to play our style of hockey. From there, we started to roll and knew we could compete.

Hopefully, he's all right because he's a big part of our team. We are going to need him.

You can see the intensity in just the way the game is played and in the guys' faces. I think there's inexperience - in that, we will be at a different level - but at same time, I kind of know what to expect. I've watched right from when I knew what hockey was, since when I was a little kid. I grew up watching the league all the time, and the playoffs. There are games every night of the week, so I loved it. Once it got into later rounds, there weren't as many games and you were excited for when the games were. It was a lot of fun.

The guys were looking for me because I already had two goals so I was trying to get open.

I'll do whatever I can to promote the game.

I want to be that counted-on guy to score goals.

If our team is playing well and winning, it doesn't really matter to me if I am scoring points or not. For me though the more I can help offensively the better our chances are to win, so I just push myself to get better and hope it continues for the rest of the year.

I play hard and aggressive. I don't lay out the huge body checks because it's not really the style I play. But I love to be around the net and love battling corners and trying to dish pucks out.

Whatever I can do to help our team, whether it's defense or offense, I'm going to do it.

It's no fun losing a tooth or getting your face whacked by a stick.

The atmosphere at the different arenas has been pretty crazy. It's been a lot of fun coming to the rink every night and competing at this level and intensity. It's going to continue and get better.

Being compared to him [Ron Francis] is pretty cool for me, but I know I am a long way away. I feel really comfortable at center, being able to roam the ice and do your thing.