NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: CAPITALS v RED WINGS

June 13, 1998

Steve Yzerman

STEVE YZERMAN: I think we feel comfortable -- I know -- it is a tight game. They scored. We don't overreact and we are able to stay focused and comfortable and not really fall apart. Then I think guys -- we have got a few guys that are able to make some really good individual efforts, as you saw in Sergei's goal. We are able to be -- able to remain composed in difficult situations.

STEVE YZERMAN: I just got a step on Tikkanen, I think and was able to -- as I cut the net -- we really got lucky because the puck, I think Kolzig, as he was getting up, he kind of -- it went off his foot and just laid there and open net for Holmer. But obviously was a good start, but it was just not much of a play; just kind of got a step on the guy and tried go to the net.

STEVE YZERMAN: For the most part we got to have a good start of the game. It really didn't so much take the crowd out of it, but we had a good start. Unfortunately we couldn't follow that up with a second goal. But it got us, you know, we were able to kind of get rolling. We played a pretty solid first period and just helped, you get off to a good start and you feel good about things.