20220122_backlund

DARRYL SUTTER ON PASSING OF CLARK GILLIES:

ON IMPORTANCE OF TONIGHT'S GAME:

"As good as our road record is, we want to improve on our last couple games on the road in terms of giving up too much and responsibilities that are involved in that. If anything that was translated to our team over the last few days, it certainly wasn't about the Oilers - it was about making sure, just because of the discrepancy in our home and road (schedule), we want to make sure we take care of our road games here."

ON PLAYING ON HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA:

"Growing up on a farm with the black-and-white TV, Hockey Night in Canada was a big thing for us. Saturday night was like family night."

ON MANGIAPANE-BACKLUND-COLEMAN LINE:

"They all have really good hockey IQ and they can play the short game, the small game - meaning, where there's some competition involved, and if they're all on the same page with that, they can be a good line."

"We want to take care of our road games here"

MIKAEL BACKLUND ON STAYING DISCIPLINED:

"I think it's more about not about playing tough, but moving our feet. If we're doing that, you're normally not taking too many penalties. We know what type of players they have on that team and what they can do, so we've got to play the right way, stay on the right side, play hard on them - but not take any penalties because we know they have a really good powerplay and that's how they won the game against us earlier in the year."

ON LINE WITH COLEMAN & MANGIAPANE:

"I see a lot of potential in it. We're three good players that can be a 200-foot game, really solid game. I think the more and more I get to know Colesy, the better we play together. I think now, even last time we played with Mang, we played really well for however many games it was. ... Getting back together again, I think we had a really solid game against Florida."

ON CHEMISTRY WITH COLEMAN:

"I think we're both responsible players. We can read the game well and know what to do in different situations, key moments. We both know we can play better and I think as of late, Colesy has played really well, had some good performances, scored some big goals. I know I can be even better. I think we're getting better and better together. Sometimes it clicks right away when you get new linemates and sometimes it takes time. I know that we have the potential to be really good together and slowly we're getting better and better."

"We have to show them that we're the better team"

NOAH HANIFIN ON THE BATTLE OF ALBERTA:

"This is a pretty rivalry, for sure. I'd say, probably, this rivalry and maybe Bruins-Montreal was pretty big for me when I was growing up, but this is always a lot of fun to play in. For me, I've never really been a part of a serious rivalry like this, so any time you get to dress up and play in these games, it's a lot of fun."

ON BUILDING OFF TUESDAY'S WIN:

"We still have some things we have to continue to build on, but I thought - defensively - we were a lot more sound and structured. We didn't give up as many chances as we have been lately. ... It's a similar strategy for us tonight. Stay structured, be good in our own zone, break the puck out smooth, get some O-zone time and try to wear them down."

"Main thing for us is being disciplined"

ON DEFENDING THE OILERS:

"You've got to make it hard on them. It's tough, they're obviously great players, but you can't give them any free chances. They're great players and they're probably going to get their looks every now and then, but it's about limiting those, trying to frustrate them a bit and give them nothing easy."