Alain Vigneault Quotes (46 Quotes)

Those teams are playing really well right now. We're in a tough division, a good division. You've got to get better every week.

We've already made the decision. Most teams put five, but we're going to put six.

Obviously, it took Jason a little bit of time to get his groove but I like the way he's been playing. We're going to need him to play that strong and even better in the playoffs. He's the type of guy that with one shot, he can find the back of the net. He's a shooter, he needs to go to those tough areas and he understands that.

We might be a little off as far as our timing goes. But our guys are going to be fine. This was a well-deserved break for them, they should be re-energized and happy to get back to work.

They're a very strong team, like Syracuse, like Toronto, like Rochester. Our division is probably the toughest of the four, so whoever we play against it's going to be a huge battle.

We're not quite sure what they're going to do, but they're going to let us know (today). Somebody is coming back.

There's no game tonight if Flats is not sharp. You have to be honest with the performance he put together here. Wade Flaherty was the difference. I've challenged him a little bit lately and he responded like a real pro.

This was one of his strongest games all year long, at both ends of the rink. He made some really solid plays in our end, along the boards. And when you do that, a lot of times it pays off at the other end.

I played with Joey Mullen back in Salt Lake City before he got called up to St. Louis. He was the first player ever to score 20 goals in the American League and 20 in the NHL. I've kept in contact with him and he's a great guy.

I know this group and they've got to be looking at the standings. You've got to be motivated and sharp to play these games. I think we're going to be fine.

It should have been obvious to everybody that Vancouver was going to look to get a little bit more depth at that position. Knowing Wade, I know he's going to react like a professional.

We were ready, but nothing transpired. For us, we're just in reaction mode a lot of the time.

This is two games in a row where our offensive opportunities are as high as they've ever been. The chances (to score) must have been 25-5 tonight. I'm happy with the way our guys played. Obviously, I would have liked for the power play to put the game away ... but the guys are working hard.

We always got together on my mom's side and I was about six-years-old. It was the last year my grandfather on my mother's side was alive. Everybody got together and he had a heart attack a couple weeks later. That last Christmas with him just stands out in my mind.

It's unfortunate, our penalty killing had been so strong lately. Obviously, you need strong penalty killing on the road to win games. In general, I liked the way we played. We were down 3-0 and came back hard.

He will practice with us (this) morning and we'll probably take him on the road. I'm not sure if he's going to play yet.

Out of the 21 players that were dressed (last) night, theoretically, seven of them are going to leave (today).

Greener is a veteran who is supposed to bring an offensive touch to the game. I thought he was all right in the first game but just so-so in the second. He had a long layover and it showed. Hopefully, a good week of practice here should help him.

Our PK was good, and not to take anything away from Philly, but they were last in the league on the power play. You still have to kill off the penalties we took. Our power play got us one goal in the first game and nothing in the second. That's one area we strive to improve.

If you look at the overall season, he's been a very consistent and steady force back there. He's very poised and plays within his limits. That's been his strength.

We're going to take that on a day-to-day basis, it depends on how the groin reacts. He's improved every day that I've seen him. (Tuesday) night was his best game so far. Obviously, he's got a ways to go but that's only going to come with time.

I knew this is really challenging for him not playing, but if we ever needed him there was never a doubt in my mind that he would be ready.

Obviously when something like that happens, there is major disappointment and status quo is not going to do it. There are some good players there and some people that were working the players. Why they didn't come together I don't know because I'm not the

If you want me to talk about the referee, I can't say a word.

Without a doubt we expected to win that game. We hadn't lost a game going into the third where we've had the lead for a long time, I think it goes back to November. I don't know why we weren't as good in the third. It's tough to say, you'd have to ask the

It's a tough loss. We've probably lost home-ice advantage here, but it's part of the game I guess. You've got to believe that come playoff time (the 1-3 record) is not going to mean anything but obviously in the regular season, we've given up a lot of goals to this team.

In all the games, we worked really hard. This was a tough grind here. The schedule was backwards. It made it that much more challenging for us. I'm happy with the way we played throughout the trip.

I liked what he brought to the table -- I saw a little bit of the same player I saw in Vancouver. He was all right with and without the puck. He brought a lot of energy, and he's got in three scraps in two games. He's doing what he needs to do to grab our attention and to stay here.

I don't see this as any different from any other time. We've got two good offensive lines, a couple grinding lines and guys on D who are going to get a lot of ice time.

In our league, the referee doesn't have the luxury of replay. He was right there, but he wasn't sure and he couldn't make the call. I looked at the replay and it was pretty evident the puck was in.

It's not going to stop him from playing (today) ... to my knowledge. He said he's going to be fine.

We're going to see probably one of the hardest (working), most physical teams in the league coming in. They don't score a lot of goals, but they play hard. A lot of times, they don't even want to play the puck, they just want to play the man. It's Calgary, in-your-face, finish-checks hockey. It's going to be a big challenge for us and the bigger the challenge, the bigger we're supposed to respond.

It's great they're getting this opportunity. A lot of times you hear guys saying 'you never gave me a chance.' Well, now they've got it. They've got the football, let's go with it.

We're looking at getting him 50 games, plus the playoffs. He didn't even play 50 last year combined with the playoffs (Flaherty played 48 total), that's why I've been careful with his playing time and rest time.

A win is a win, but the guys weren't happy -- they would have preferred to do it in regular time. It's a big win for us and I liked a lot of parts to our game.

That was a big momentum shift. To give up that goal really, really hurt.

If he wants to play in the NHL against good teams, now he's playing against one of the top teams in the American League and he's got to find away to make a difference in the game. The only difference I see is that Max doesn't play the puck as much around his net as Flats (Wade Flaherty).

A big momentum switch there. Our power play had some great chances, to give up that ... (it) really hurt us.

One of our mandates with Vancouver is development and they'll decide whom we develop and who we don't. The other side to this is that we think we've got a pretty good team here and we'd like to have a shot. We're going to be in the playoffs and if we can keep a similar (roster) we have a chance to compete and do well. Obviously, we'd like to see the group stay the same but if certain guys get called up or are moved and go to the NHL, we'll be happy for them. We'll just have to wait and see.

That's bush-league. I haven't seen that in pro hockey.

We generated zero chances in the first. Nothing. I believe we've got a better offensive team than we've shown the past two games here.

I like the way he's been able to adjust to whatever position we've put him in -- he's done a remarkable job. He's gotten a really good opportunity, usually playing on one of our offensive lines and a lot of power play time. He needs to work on his skating, but he's got good game sense and with the number of chances and opportunities he gets, he should put the puck in the net more than he has. But his work ethic and overall play this year is solid. He took the opportunity and ran with it and did a good job. He's earned it.

That hurts us off the bat. Yes, we were up 4-2 but I never really thought we had our whole execution down pat.

They took the lead, and we just didn't stop. Even though it was a 2-1 game, it was one of the more entertaining games of the year. Both teams played with a lot of courage.

Anybody's who watched any hockey in the last 10, 15 years knows that (Keane) doesn't go often, but when he does he's pretty good at it.

I'm not sure what they're going to do, we'll wait and see. We'll be in reaction mode, but we'll find a way to get it done.