🎥 SOUND: Hertl & Cassidy
What do you call that drill that started practice? It was like nine on nine and they’re got and they have >> see who the athletes are drill. See if someone’s shooting the wrong hand. We didn’t find out. Our scouts, you know, we’re kind of I did that a long time ago for fun. I think it was in Indianapolis. I don’t know why. Maybe to change it up. Guys like it every once in a while. It’s not a terrible thing. There was a hockey team out there watching this. They’re like, “Geez, these guys aren’t very good.” That’s what the first thing that must have went through their head. Yeah, that’s what it was. So, a few laughs. >> Um, anything further on Eel or Theodore? >> Uh, Theo is week to week. Uh, won’t travel. You know, he’s going to be okay, but maybe a little little longer than we first thought. So, uh, Jack won’t travel. Um, he’ll still be dayto-day. Um, he’s got a a lower body as well. He wasn’t feeling well the other day. There’s a lot going on. So, um, that’s what’s up with Jack. So, maybe next week we’ll see see where he’s at. >> I know it’s hard to you can’t control the flu when it goes around or any kind of sickness that goes around, but I guess how how well do you manage it or do you manage it in a certain way to work? >> Well, our medical guys would have to be the kind of cleansers of that around the the locker room and water bottles and whatever um how their equipment gets handled. Uh, I think one of our staff is out today, so there’s a little bit going on, but you try to keep guys separated as much as you can, which is obviously not easy. You’re on an airplane, you’re in a dressing room, so locker room. Um, we’ve been good for the most part. We’ve had it worse. Hopefully, you know, we don’t, but that’s the best answer I got. I don’t how else to do it. >> Just take us through how you landed on the lines that you landed on with Mitch in the center. >> Uh, today we had Barbie at center. Uh Mitch on left wing. We put Mitch the other day at center for sure. I talked to him a number of times about that when Carly got hurt if someone were to go down. I think how he might have missed some shifts. I don’t know if I can’t remember or no who was it? It was Siz right uh left. He he was sick in uh in New Jersey. So we ended up moving Riley there. So Mitch is fine with wherever we put him. Um Barbie’s played center in St. Louis years ago. So that one we hadn’t done yet, but was in our back pocket. So tomorrow, that’s where he might play. So they’re on the same line. So if Barbie’s struggling or whatever, wants to go back to left wing, Mitches pops into the middle. I think the end of the day with both Jack and Carly out, you know, there is someone has to go in there. It’s been Howie and someone else will have to go in when Sizz was sick. That’s just the way it is. So um some guys don’t mind it, Ken. And you know, they a little more between the dots, a little more room. It’s just the down low stuff they got to get used to. Faceoffs is obviously a challenge. We got to be careful. Um sometimes the guys taking a lot of draws probably better off using them in the neutral zone where it’s less problematic if you lose it. Um that messes up your chemistry of lines too. So sometimes you just got to hope that they get in there and maybe go for the tie and people help them up if they’re having a tough night. Like the other night with Glenn Denny, he was kind of had our way with most of our guys. >> Do you feel like it’s like there’s more thinking? Can it like slow you down? >> Um, well, there is more to process for sure. Um, will that slow you down? Well, it depends how cerebral you are you are to begin with maybe, right? If you’re a guy that we have a lot of cerebral players, that’s why it’s not the end of the world. Like Riley Smith’s a smart player, so is Marner. So, putting them in the middle. Barbie’s played it. Um just a different less room to operate. You know, on the walls you’re I mean there’s a there’s boards there, right? So in the middle usually you can go either way and on the wing you’re a little bit more limited. So things are tighter. Uh time and space becomes an issue. Uh playing center, it’s a little more keeping your speed or slowing down because you don’t want to overkate pucks on the breakout especially. Now you’re above it. If it doesn’t work out, you know, you’re usually at a disadvantage. So that’s that’s the difference usually for the center has to be a little more cautious on on uh when he heads north. >> Bruce, >> just on Theodore a little bit. Um the timing is never good, but he had just started over the last month or six weeks play some of his best hockey of the season. Do you feel for him a little bit? Four nations last year. Now he’s week to week with this and you know having to deal with another injury uh this year. >> Yeah, I I don’t think this will be a long one, Dave. I don’t want to speak out of turn. Um um and hopefully that’s the case. The the Four Nations I felt bad for him because it’s it turned out to be like a we didn’t know it was game one I think the first period so we didn’t know the where that tournament was going to go and it took off. So he didn’t get to be on the ice part of it. He stuck around to be part of it and part of the team which is good on Theo. Didn’t go unnoticed uh by the managers, coaching staff, the players. Could have went off to pick your spot. I mean, Maui, you name it, right? He could have went and enjoyed his time. Uh he’s got a family, but he he chose hockey first in that case. And um so that that that’s that’s where he wanted to be. And I know he wants to obviously if your question is leading into the Olympics, of course, he wants to play in the Olympics. I don’t think this will impact that at all. He’s going to miss a little time. He’s been playing very well. Hopefully picks up where he left off. Hey Bruce. Uh Wednesday’s game you started with Braden Bowman on the top power play unit. By the end it was Noah Hannifan. Was that just an in-game adjustment or are you going to start uh against Calgary with with No. >> What happened is we practiced the day before and Jack had left kind of in the middle of it. We were >> just set on staying the same way. We weren’t sure if Jack was going to play or not to be quite honest with you. So we just plugged Braden in there. Then we had practiced it. I had talked to Mitch about going to the half wall. Uh he’s played there a lot. uh he’d just move slide down and then Hanny’s played the top a lot. I think it’d be good for Hanny’s game, get a few more touches. So, that was the thinking behind it. Uh it was nothing against um Braden. I think Mitch has had much more experience in the league on entries, the drop. Um he’s been through it a lot. Hy’s been the guy dropping it. So, there’s should be no drop off or u in that area in the entries. Whereas Bo hasn’t done a lot of that. I think Bo could play the halfall. I’ve seen him do it in Henderson on both sides here. He went down to the goal line. He’s done it in the second unit. So, that was the thinking behind it. We’ll probably stay with Mitch in the half wall and and use Hanny up top. I like the way it looked. Um, if we struggle with it on the road, then we’ll we’ll go back to the other way. >> Do you have goalies decided for the trip? >> What’s that? >> Do you have the goalies decided for the trip? >> I do. Danny, can I ask you? >> Yeah. Kira’s going to play tomorrow and Hart’s plan is uh in Edmonton. That’s the plan. So hopefully that stays the same way tomorrow morning, but that’s what we’re going to do. >> Calgary twice, real early um since then. What’s been your read on on them lately? >> They’re playing better. Uh they were having trouble scoring early on in the year. I know Wolf uh has played really well lately, too. His numbers are back where similar to where they were last year or getting there. Sorry. I think they’re they’ve used their backup goalie a little more. I think there was some uncertainty on him early in the year. He’s got very good numbers. So that part of their game has been good. their effort just finishing. Um got six the other night against two Seattle. So maybe they’re turning the corner a little bit there. So got to be mindful of that. That’s what I see in them early in the year. I think if I’m not mistaken, Hilly left both games, did he not? So Akira went in and I thought we played pretty well. Um from the second period on and I don’t think we had a good first period up there in Calgary, but got going. And at home was a game I think our power play broke it open for us. Um so special teams were important. kind of just a strange blip in the schedule where you guys played so many every other day and now you have a break with what like one game in six days like how do you try to stay fresh? Do you think do you see that as like a benefit or is it a challenge to have a lot of rest after that stretch? Yeah, obviously we been I think nice little maybe two days but you know obviously when you have three days and more it’s kind of you out from the rhythm but same time it’s nice because we we have to enjoy it because now and the Christmas time we don’t have much time after you know all the way to the the Olympic break we play almost every other day so at the same time you know is we have to regroup and catch the energy because after that there is no no time off really so so that’s it but like I think a lot of guys just like to play hockey you It’s less practice, more game, more fun, you know. So, everywhere I play the game. So, so and get used to it. It’s all the leak, you know. So, it’s a lot of games, but uh definitely schedule is not easy. >> What have you guys been working on this week in practice now that you have had some time to really practice? >> I would say like all over our game, you know, obviously I think we saw really good defensively. Obviously, we didn’t score many goals. You know, lately a lot of time games, but we have some good looks. You know, sometimes it’s PS going in the net, sometimes not. But, you know, like definitely we uh always kind of refocus what we did last couple of games good and bad. You know, obviously last couple games some rashes. So, make sure we put Pike behind and play down low. You know, we really strong team, strong on the parks, in Ozone and and so we keep running on it. But, uh we have to just be more careful in neutral zone, especially against skilled teams, young teams. you know, they want to play with the puck and and use their speed. >> What was your biggest takeaway from the New Jersey game? >> Oh, I think we have like obviously a little slow start. I think it’s sometimes happen after long trips like that, but I think that’s was exactly early, you know, we kind of lose couple parks on the blue line, give them rush chances, you know, and and they have young skill, fast team, and it’s exactly what they want. And I think in the third when we put behind and hold the park, make a strong plays, you know, they have tough time to defend, you know. So I think we all know the recepty, you know, guys long time, you know, I’m here over the years and we know how we win games, you know, we really good defensive team and and when we hold the pucks, make you play o zone. Not many teams can get out and and that’s kind of what we have to do. >> When you look ahead to this weekend, it’s going to be fast, right? Back to backs, Calgary, Edmonton, but they’re important games. They’re in the division. Uh I guess what’s the biggest focus that you have for the weekend ahead? Yeah, definitely. You know, we know like a lot of times happen, you know, it’s Christmas behind the corner, you know, everybody have families, you know, exciting about stuff, but we still have three games to play, you know, three different finish games, you know, and every every game be tough, you know. Obviously, you know, I was struggling, but I think play a little better hockey now. Obviously, Edmonton is kind of rival for couple of years now, you know. So we definitely have some something to prove it and and some good hockey to play and and definitely was wasn’t be easy trip but you know we’ll take in some points you know at home hopefully all four. >> Cool. Great.
Tomas Hertl and Head Coach Bruce Cassidy speak to the media following Friday’s practice at City National Arena.
Don’t forget to subscribe to our channel for all the latest Vegas Golden Knights Videos!
For more info: http://vegasgoldenknights.com
Follow the Golden Knights on social media:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vegasgoldenknights
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoldenKnights
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vegasgoldenknights
1 comment
⚔️