Lindy Ruff Ice Quotations

He didn't get the quality ice time of some of our players, but he made the best of the ice time he did get. I thought he was our best player on the ice in the first period.

He's been a main cog for us. When he's on the ice he makes things happen. He keeps getting better, and we need him to get better.

I thought they were our best line. I tried to get them more ice time. I thought they came out at the start of the third period and set the tone. They did what they needed to do. They put in a very determined effort and played a pretty smart, physical game for us.

We've warned our guys. He's a guy that you can burn, but he can hurt you if you don't have your wits about you when he's on the ice because he's going to come running, and if you're not ready for it . . . I've seen some tremendous hits out of him this year.

As a team, there's nights when you need his enthusiasm, you need that desire to go through anybody. His fearless attitude on the ice is something that keeps other teams on their toes. There's nights you just can't have another player do that. He's full bore, straight ahead, and the first guy there when there's trouble for any of his teammates.

Everybody's schedule is tough. I think we have one of the toughest. I don't know if there's another team that plays 17 games in 30 days. But I think the advantage we have built in is we've utilized four lines. We've been a pretty balanced team when it comes to ice time.

I really think with more ice time you'll see bigger things. It has been that way when he's been given a larger role, and you've got to give him credit for staying ready. It's not easy being out of the lineup.