Yahoo Sports 'Felt Like A Playoff Game': Pyotr Kochetkov, Martin Necas, Rod Brind'Amour On Win In Sunrise
The Carolina Hurricanes beat the Florida Panthers Thursday night in a big 3-1 win at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Canes had goals by Brent Burns, Jaccob Slavin and Martin Necas in the win and Pyotr Kochetkov stopped 25 shots in the win.
After the game, Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour along with Kochetkov and Necas spoke with the media in Florida. Here's what they had to say:
Rod Brind'Amour
On the game: The start, our first period, was really good. Probably should have been up more than one just by the way we were playing. You knew they were going to have their push, they're too good, and they did. They got back into the game, but I thought we stuck with it. I mean, obviously we had a couple of big saves, which we need. That's a crucial part that kept us in the game. And then we got the go-ahead goal. Overall, I thought it was a good, solid 60-minute game, which we've played the last little stretch here, we just haven't been getting that one play here or there to push us over the top and tonight we did.
On Pyotr Kochetkov: It's huge. Listen, they got in there a few times and that's the game. He made a couple huge saves. That just let's you be like, 'Okay, we don't have to worry about it.' If they go in, all of a sudden now we're worrying about that mistake and the players are worrying about their mistakes. It allows you to just keep moving on. Obviously it was the difference in the game tonight.
On flipping Jordan Staal and Jesperi Kotkaniemi: It's a tough one when they have a superstar player and you know how they're trying to avoid our big guy, so it was just a different look and trying to get some sort of different matchup there. Also maybe to try and jumpstart 37. We're trying to get him to be the player he is because if we can get him going, we're in good shape.
On Jaccob Slavin's goal: You saw exactly what happened. We fall into the goalie, but then he can't get out. Maybe if that first shot had gone in then maybe that doesn't count, but there's plenty of time to, number one, let him out and number two, the goalie could have gotten set. So it was the right call obviously because they didn't challenge it. Again, that was the break we needed tonight.
Pyotr Kochetkov
On the team's performance: Today, we play very well. I think we very needed to win because we lose two games to this team. So we needed a little bit of an answer because two losses, 6-3 and 6-0, is bad for us. Today, whole team great job today.
On his game: I just... I tell you before, I just try and focus on one shot. I want play position and no think too much. I just want play and focus for what I do. I no [care] about who play against me.
On getting a win on the road: Of course. We come back at home back for a couple games. This season, it's very tough feel. You're always on trip. It's like 62 games on trip and 20 games at home. Just very weird. You know, it's just NHL, baby.
Martin Necas
On the game: Felt like a playoff game. A little down after the past few road games, but I felt like we started great and were just all over them. A great game and it was good to get it going with a win like that. Let's keep it going in 2025.
On playing in his 400th game: I mean, I didn't even know I had 400 games. Guys told me before the game. Time flies. I remember when I had my first 100 and I just appreciate every game that I get to play in this league. You don't really count them, just try to keep going.
On the goaltending: He was really solid. You can feel the confidence from him and it gives us confidence. Even if we mess up once in a while, he makes the big saves and that was key.
On the top defensive pairing: Just really solid defensively. To be honest, Slavo I would say is by far is the best defensive d-man in the league. It's pretty impressive to see him do it on a daily basis and when he scores goals, it's even sweeter.
