20210225_bench_ward

GEOFF WARD ON TIGHT TURNAROUND:

ON DAVID RITTICH:

"He's much more focused mentally this year. … Just how he's able to stay on task. He's an emotional goaltender, wears his emotions on his sleeve. We've seen it numerous times. he's a competitor. But sometimes he would let that go a little bit. Now, it's not a distraction to what he's doing in the moments of a game."

"It's a lot of hockey in a short period of time"

ON THE TEAM'S GAME:

"I really felt that our defensive details outside of a couple of defensive breakdowns were fairly good through both games (in Toronto). We've got different game-goals that we talk about and we've been locked into those things in terms of meeting those numbers on a game-by-game basis, and it's becoming a lot more consistent for us."

MATTHEW TKACHUK ON BROTHER BRADY:

"I know times have been tough for them this year, but he's done a great job of leading them. We all see the way he plays, the way he carries himself - he's the epitome of a leader in that dressing room. Just an all-around great guy, great player and I'm happy to see the notoriety he's getting this year, because he deserves it. … We're going to have our hands full tonight with the way he's playing, the way his line is playing. ... In talking to him, his team gets a little more fired up to play us, because they want to win it for him, too. We've got to be ready, because we're going to get their best tonight."

"Gonna be seeing a lot of him, a lot of his team"

BRADY ON 'SIBLING RIVALRY':

"It's just special for not only Matthew and I, but our parents, my sister, Taryn, and all of our extended family and friends that will be watching. It's huge for them, too, because they've all had an impact on us and have helped us get to where we are now. It's a great moment for everybody and, of course, Matthew and I circled this because it's so much fun to see each other as well, and it's going to be a blast. They're big games, too. We're not going to take these games lightly - we both want to win - and I know we're both going to take whatever it takes to win."

ANDREW MANGIAPANE ON GOING 1-0-1 VS. LEAFS:

"I'd say just everybody's showing a little more compete. Just playing more of a team game. We're focused on our defensive zone, everyone's back-tracking. I still think there's room to improve in those areas, but it's a step in the right direction."

"That's a step in the right direction"