SAY WHAT: 'EMBRACE THAT PART OF THE GAME'

DARRYL SUTTER ON IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTRES:

ON DEFENDING LATE IN THE GAME LAST NIGHT:

"Third period was pretty much two back-to-back powerplays and a goalie out. Almost six minutes of that period was basically in a penalty-killing or extra-man mode. 5-on-5, we were good at it. Obviously, you spend that much time killing penalties and with the extra man, you're relying on only a handful of guys and that takes its toll."

ON MANGIAPANE/LINE AS A WHOLE:

"I think the line in the home games is very effective and Mang is a big part of that. He's a persistent player, I think, and has good hockey sense and head on him in terms of what's going on in the game. Even the goal we scored (last night), he tries to drive around (Justin) Holl for them, and that's the play we're trying to work on, to drive farther into the zone with the puck or with the chip play to each other. That was big play on that goal and I think that line, Mang and Looch, they complement each other, and I think Mikael can become more of an efficient player for us."

MIKAEL BACKLUND ON SUTTER/FELLOW CENTRES:

"He demands a lot of his centremen. He believes winning teams have a deep centre group and do a lot of the heavy lifting. I think we have some really good players down the middle and it's on us to drive our lines. and I think we've done a pretty good job of that. It's been a clear message from Darryl; it hasn't changed the mindset too much, but I'm just trying to play my game on the ice and make sure everyone knows what we're doing on faceoffs and all that stuff. It's my game to drive my play and drive my line."

ON SUTTER EMPOWERING HIM AS A PLAYER:

"It definitely helps me, personally. When you get a total stranger as a new coach, it's always hard to get a read on him and know what he's like. I didn't have him as a coach, but I had him as a GM. First meeting, he was the same old Darryl as he was 14 years ago. He knows what to expect from me ... and I've tried to help the guys that have had never had him before."