SAY WHAT: 'IT'S SOMETHING I NEEDED'

DILLON DUBE ON HIS GAME THIS YEAR:

ON IF IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT, AT TIMES:

"No, I think it's good - it's learning. That's what it is. I wouldn't say it's not easy. It's a lot of learning, it's different than what I did before, but it's something I needed or else I wasn't going to be a factor on this team at all, because that's how we win hockey games. It's learning and it's learning for a lot of guys. It's an exciting challenge. It's what you want. You want to develop your game over the years."

ON WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE LINEUP:

"Just hard on pucks. I think winning my battles, but the biggest thing is just skating. Getting my feet going early in a game and it builds throughout the whole 60 minutes, so I try and simplify it when things are going right, every guy has that thing that they do really well and mine is skating. Mine, just skate as hard as I can."

ON REVENGE VS. SAN JOSE:

"We remember those games. They out-played us, for sure, in those two games, they were the better team and their top guys were really good. ... We've got to try and even it up and get a win tonight. But they've out-played us for sure in the last two games."

KIRK MULLER ON FORWARD LINE COMBOS:

"It's good to be versatile and give a different look to teams. Have players that are able to play centre and move to the wings - like you say, different games just to show a different look. You know, we tried it. Over 82 games, you need to change things up sometimes. Even for the players, the mindset of doing something different and get out of certain habits and that. It worked and I thought we had a strong game in Vancouver and we've just got to build on that one with the players. It's nice to see they're versatile with that."

ON FACING THE SHARKS:

"Their top players, they've been important players for their team against us in both games. We've got to keep them off the scoresheet tonight. We've got to be aware of them. If you look at their team, they play fast and they play quick. What you've got to do against teams like that, you've got to get in front of them, get in their way and slow them down. If we do that and play our game that way, that's what we're looking for. It's important that we check well tonight and put pucks in the right areas, so that we can create a forecheck and keep gaining o-zone time against this team and not let them play up-and-down hockey. That's what they've been able to do the two games against us. We've got to be really right - five guys together and be connected."

ON DIFFERENT STYLES OF OPPONENTS:

"Really, everybody's playing for different reasons. You can be a young player on a certain team and this is your opportunity. You could have guys fighting to stay in the NHL. There's a lot of pride in this league if you're a hockey player. You've got to feel very fortunate to play in the NHL, so when there's pride involved, you've always got to be prepared for everybody.
"And that's the important thing for us. We've really got to focus on us. Everyone has different priorities and agendas and where they're at, and everything. We have to come every day and get better, every day at practice. And there aren't many practices, so we've got to teach, we've got to coach, in the video room, on the ice, and push the guys so when we do hit the ice for games, we're ready, we're prepared, and we walk out after the game like that Vancouver game and say, 'This is who we are. We've got to do that well, we've got to do it consistently.' We've got to be adaptable to do that system against any team. Whether they're high-scoring, defensive, fast, quick, big, heavy teams, it shouldn't change the way we play."