NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: STARS v DEVILS

June 9, 2000

Derian Hatcher

Joe Nieuwendyk

DERIAN HATCHER: Basically I don't know, we had a bus ride, I think, 45, 50 minutes whatever, somewhere in there, to a hotel, I am not even naming the city it was in. 11:00 bus this morning and I don't know, three hour flight and then we -- I think we tried to land twice and we had to circle back around, seems like it just dragged it on a little bit longer.

DERIAN HATCHER: Well, maybe a bit. Obviously Jersey really, really wanted to win that game last night. We have been in the same situation but up 3-1 and the last thing we wanted to do was go to the other team's ice for a Game 6, then you really never know what happens. I think the further the game went on last night the more we kept saying, if we can win this one, boys, we are going to be right there. You never know what is going to happen.

DERIAN HATCHER: Well, I think we improved. We talked about defensemen really making sure they are back. We really wanted to try to out-limit the two-on-ones so far, three-on-twos, so forth, but I mean they still had their chances. What can you say, Eddie played great. But I think overall the team in general had a better recognition of who was on the ice and where they were at.

DERIAN HATCHER: I don't know what was going on last night. (laughs) No, I think last night they just wanted to get everyone into the game and roll (inaudible) the defensemen more, if anything, I think they wanted Darryl and Zuby to play with Mike's line. I know for a lot of the night I felt we were out there with Joe, so really the matchups weren't talked about.

DERIAN HATCHER: I don't know. I am sure we haven't really talked about it too much of it. I am sure tomorrow morning we will get that all figured out.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: Well, I think, you know, we put ourselves in the position being down 3-1 where we had to go into their building and have a big effort and we did that. Coming home, I think we are nothing but confident right now. I think we realize although it is going to be a tough game because they could play well on the road, some points of this Playoffs they have even played better on the road than they do at home. So I think we are well aware. That it is going to take our best effort again tomorrow night, but we are -- we have a little bit of confidence right now.

DERIAN HATCHER: I really can't sum it up much more than Joe just said. I know one thing, I'd rather be playing at home tomorrow night than on the road.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: There was a lot of guys getting sticks in the face last night. It was a war out there. But I just think that we really were committed what we had to do last night and we were getting a lot of opportunities. There were so many different line combinations you didn't know who you were going over the boards with at any time. It just seemed like everyone was playing for one another.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: Physically I think there is no doubt we will be ready. Today is a tough day obviously, but we will get a good meal tonight and good rest and be ready to go tomorrow. Mentally, I think we are -- we may have an edge. I'd like to think we do. Last night we said after the second and into the third overtime, if we can win this game this could be a real tough loss for them. Because they had the party ready. They had everything set to go. We took it away from them. That hurts them, you know, we come home with our home fans now. It is going to be a big night tomorrow night.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: You were a Red Wings fan?

DERIAN HATCHER: No, never was -- I saw the Capitals actually come back a couple of times.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: I think the momentum has shifted, but I think, you know, they are a pretty experienced hockey team and they are going to regroup. They are going to recollect themselves and be ready to go again tomorrow night. They play a solid road game and like I said before, we have to have our best game again tomorrow night. That is what it is going to take to win.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: Well, I think it hurt them real bad. You go that long and you are that close to winning a Cup and you come up short, it is hard on those guys in that locker room, there is no doubt about that. But I think they are going to get over that because they are obviously still needing this series and they feel good about themselves. So we are not getting too excited yet. We have accomplished what we wanted to and that is to win in their building but we have got a long way to go.

DERIAN HATCHER: I am all right. Just decided -- no, I mean, obviously after however many minutes of hockey there was last night I think guys that, you know, a little bit tired, muscles maybe start to cramp a little bit, so forth so on. But actually I feel pretty good today.

DERIAN HATCHER: No, I didn't. But I mean, some guys might have. I don't really know what you are talking about to be honest. I mean, I was tired.

JOE NIEUWENDYK: Well, I think last night was by far his best game of the series. He was real solid in the net last night. He made some big saves for them. Seems to get better as the series goes on here. We don't see him a lot. We just you know, but he is a quality goaltender. He has made some big saves for them, but I think we are getting some better opportunities now. We got some good looks at a him last night. We hope to continue that tomorrow.

DERIAN HATCHER: That would be a bad feeling. I think to win Game 5 and to allow that to happen, you know, I mean, that would be a horrible feeling. Like Newey said, we did what we wanted to do in Game 5 now we are back on our home ice. Obviously we are confident that we can win tomorrow night much but we will try our best not to let that happen.