Ken Hitchcock
Ken Hitchcock
Kenneth S. Hitchcock, nicknamed "Hitch", is an NHL hockey coach and pro scout, currently coaching the St. Louis Blues. He has also served as head coach of the NHL's Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, and Columbus Blue Jackets. He coached the Stars to a Stanley Cup victory in 1999...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth17 December 1951
CityEdmonton, Canada
constantly difficult fans games playoff road seen win
I've seen our fans just will us in playoff games. I think home-ice is something you need. It's very important. It's real difficult when you constantly have to win road games in the playoffs.
constantly difficult fans feeling game playoff regular seen throw win
You throw all of that out the window. The fans know this isn't the regular season, our fans especially. I've seen our fans just will us in a playoff series. It's really difficult when you're constantly having to win on the road. Having a Game 7 in your building, to me, there is no better feeling in the world.
decision difficult easier ground hard playing proving team win
I think the proving ground is when we play this way, we have success. It's a hard way to play. It's difficult and very demanding. The decision you have to make as a team is do you want to play this way and win or do you want to find an easier way to play and take your chances? They like playing and winning.
against challenge difficult dig grasp hard seeing starting team
I think you're seeing in our team the realization of how difficult this challenge is, how hard it is, is starting to grasp everybody. I think you'll see our team starting (today against the Czechs) to dig in at a whole new level.
based certainly difficult poor
It certainly wasn't based on anybody's poor play and that's what made it such a difficult decision.
biggest fans goal stands sure
I'm sure the fans in the stands were, 'Oh no, here we go again. I think for us, that was the biggest goal of the series.
change guy job three
I know a guy like Simmer, he could do the same job as two or three other guys, but it's working right now. I don't want to change it if it's working.
good happens hockey next playing start trying waiting weekend whatever
I know about playing back-to-backs, and they're up there waiting for us. Whatever happens in that game, if we play the right way, we'll feel good about it. You don't want to start next weekend trying to find your hockey game.
dealing eight fire game giving good level penalties period rules seven team third took
It's still not good enough. We know the rules and we took two penalties in the third period that we can't take, not when the game is on the line. You're just dealing with an unbelievable level of fire when you're giving a team like that six, seven or eight penalties.
buffalo deal game win
It's something we'll have to deal with. Yeah, we wanted (home ice). Hopefully, it won't become a factor. We know we have to win at least one game in Buffalo and probably more.
air deflation
The air went out completely. The deflation was unbelievable.
brought goal team
That goal brought our team back into the game.
best hockey periods played
That is probably one of the best periods of hockey we've played in this building.
gave power
They live off the power play and we gave them power plays. That's what is really disappointing.