SAY WHAT: 'NO FRIENDS OUT THERE'

CHRIS TANEV ON RETURNING TO VANCOUVER:

TANEV ON FLAMES' DEFENCE:

"We feel like we have six very good defencemen - one of the best D corps in the league, in our minds. Three new guys, others are learning to play with each other, and I don't know if G (Mark Giordano) and Andy (Rasmus Andersson) played a lot together in the past. But you're learning peoples' tendencies and learning how to gel with the person, and I think we've done a good job. … I feel like we've played well, but we still have that next level that - personally - I can get to, and the rest of us can get to as well."

JOSH LEIVO ON TWO SEASONS IN VAN:

"Some good memories. I really started my career here. Didn't get much playing time in Toronto. Feels good to be back. … They're still good friends and I do stay in touch. When it's game time, though, you put that behind you and stay ready. There are no friends out there. We know what's at stake tonight and we want to come out on top."

LEIVO ON OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION:

"I think I've had a couple games where the chances are there and I might have been gripping the stick a little too hard. You look at your whole game and if the defensive end is covered and you're getting chances, you can't really get too down on yourself. ... There have been a couple times I've been a little frustrated, but the coaches have been keeping the positivity, showing the good chances and good plays (on video) to keep my confidence up."

GEOFF WARD ON MILAN LUCIC:

"Milan's a good player and people I think sometimes forget that he's been a 30-goal guy in this league, he's been a 20-goal guy in this league, he's been a 50-point guy in this league. He knows how to play the game. Playing with guys like David Krejci and Nathan Horton, he's always been a top-six player. He's a guy that's been playing well enough that there's a comfort level with me, with him, given our history. He has the ability to give a huge emotional boost to a team at any point in a hockey game. ... We felt he would be a guy that would fit there (with Mikael Backlund and Andrew Mangiapane) and they've been a really good trio for us."

ON WHAT LUCIC ADDS TO THAT LINE:

"He's good in battles. He gets his feet moving and then if you don't have a play off the rush, you can put pucks into his corner, play them in behind and he'll go get them for you; and if he happens to be the driver on the line rush, he's going to create a lot of room for the other guys because of how hard he goes to the net."

ON LEIVO'S GAME:

"It's a day at a time with all our players. We like his game and awful lot. He's been real good defensively for us and he's created - especially in the last three hockey games that he's been in - he's created some chances. ... I think the offensive part of it is coming. The last thing you want to do is put pressure on a guy to score, but the important thing is he's getting chances and it won't be long before one drops. We want to make sure we put him in situations to have success, and we're starting to see some good signs there."