Friday, May 22, 2009

Practice Day Quotes Coach Mike Babcock May 21, 2009

2009 Western Conference Final -- Practice Day Quotes

Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Mike Babcock
May 21, 2009

THE MODERATOR: Questions for Mike Babcock.

Q. Hossa, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, despite not scoring, how have they made a difference?

MIKE BABCOCK: They've been excellent. I just look at the other team's got to worry about them. They compete hard. They're good defensively. You know, I think they've all had their moments. They're all proud guys and they want to score. And when you don't score, you got to make sure you're a plus, you're doing good things to help the team. They've been doing that, whether that be on the penalty kill, whether that be on the power play.


I never have a problem with how Pav competes. Tommy is doing what he can. I've been impressed with the work ethic of Hossa.


Q. Pavel Datsyuk didn't practice this morning. What is going to happen? Is Pavel going to play?

MIKE BABCOCK: Well, we sure think so. It's day to day. He got a rocket off the foot the other night. You know, you go from there and you see what happens.


Q. (No microphone.)

MIKE BABCOCK: I haven't got that far. I moved it like that for a reason, I guess. But good thing about it is I got another night's sleep, if that's still the case. We'll see what happens after the skate.


Q. When you look at the Chicago team, it seems they're so skilled. You can see the potential in them. They're obviously I don't want to say overachieving. Do you almost have to snuff out that confidence, they might be thinking they can't beat you, before they see a glimmer of hope?

MIKE BABCOCK: Overachieving, that's not what they're doing at all. They're that good. I really believe they're an excellent team. They played hard all year long. They were a good team two years ago. They've just continued to take steps. I like their players. I like their pieces.


Game 2, I thought they gave us everything we could handle. It's going to be a great crowd. When you go to Chicago, it's a great city, but it's a great crowd. It will be real exciting. They'll be jacked right up. We're going to have to be really poised and patient early and play real hard.


I thought they played harder in Game 2. We have to play harder than we did in Game 2.

Find out about Datsyuk's injury.