What was your reaction when you found out you’d be starting?
“Excited. I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for a long time. I was just excited. I finally got an opportunity, just kind of been waiting my turn. I’m excited my team was able to put away some goals for me; that builds confidence as the game goes on. Got a little scary there in the third (period), but it was good that we were able to hold on like that.
“Defensively, we played great in the first two periods. They let me see
the puck, blocked shots. They made my job really easy.”
Did playing the shootouts help you prepare?
It does. It keeps you mentally ready. Going in at the end of the last game, it’s a completely different aspect – you’re going right into a fire. Having that mental challenge, I think, helped get ready for today.