NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: MIGHTY DUCKS v DEVILS

June 7, 2003

Paul Kariya

Steve Rucchin

PAUL KARIYA: I feel good. It was a big win for our club. We're excited about the Game 7. Mike was just saying good job and we're ready to go.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, I sensed he was there, but I thought I had a little bit more time than that. That's Scott's game. He's very patient with his hits, and he times them right. But I thought it was a little bit late.

PAUL KARIYA: No.

PAUL KARIYA: I thought I had a little bit more time when I made the pass. I thought he was going to be backed up a little bit. He stepped up, and those things happen.

PAUL KARIYA: No, I was pretty clear. He's a big guy, but I went to the dressing room. The doctors did some tests. I felt great. Made sure everything was fine, got back on the ice.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, that's Scott's game obviously, and I thought he was a little bit late. I didn't look at a replay of it or anything like that. Water under the bridge. It woke me up.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, I didn't like the hit obviously, but that's Scott's game. He's a patient guy. He waits for his opportunity, and he's done that throughout his career.

STEVE RUCCHIN: Well, I expect the same thing from Paul in Game 7. That's just a sign of leadership right there to come back after that and score that goal. What a huge goal. We got a few timely goals from some guys tonight. I just can't say enough about that play. What a competitor.

STEVE RUCCHIN: First of all, I was really concerned about his well-being. I didn't see the hit. You see a guy laying on the ice, like I said, I was concerned about Paul and whether he was going to be okay. You lose a guy like Paul, it doesn't matter what team he's on, that could be a huge blow. We were playing well as a team. I still felt confident in our game at the time, but it was definitely a lift when he came back. And then to see him go to the net like that, you can't say enough about his desire in this situation and then to score that goal. It was just a huge goal for us. I expect the same from him in Game 7.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, it was a nice ovation from the crowd. I didn't expect anything, but it was a nice lift. The goal, I was just going down the wing and that's where I like to put it in that situation, and made a good shot and that's it.

PAUL KARIYA: No, I was making sure everything was fine. Obviously I was rearing to get out there and play again. The doctors cleared me to go and I was back on the ice.

STEVE RUCCHIN: Well, the last couple of years have been tough definitely. This more than makes up for it. You can't dream of anything more, a chance to win the Stanley Cup in Game 7. It doesn't get much better than that. At the same time, I'm happy to be able to share this opportunity with some guys that have been here awhile. One of them is Paul. It means a lot for some of the downs we have had as an organization to get this chance and get some respect in the League. That's the biggest thing I think is to be able to share this with some teammates that I've played with.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, they're a very good defensive team. They don't give any odd-man rushes. They always seem to have three or four guys back in the neutral zone. The biggest thing is staying patient and waiting for your opportunity. We haven't been getting any opportunities with the powerplay and we have been struggling with it. Just staying patient and capitalizing on the chances you get.

PAUL KARIYA: No, just you got to go out there and make plays. That's my job to produce offensively. I haven't been doing it very well in this series, so I wanted to help the team and solidify the win.

PAUL KARIYA: No. You guys do your job and I do my job on the ice. I haven't been playing well through the first part of the series, but I knew it was going to come. I felt good physically, and it was just a matter of time.

PAUL KARIYA: I saw a couple replays. It looked a little bit like the elbow. That's the way he hits, so it's a fine line there.

PAUL KARIYA: Well, winning obviously. But when I was a kid growing up, I didn't have that vivid of an imagination. I was just going out there and playing. I didn't think about it too much.

PAUL KARIYA: Different helmet and mouth guard. I never wore one before. It gagged me a little bit but I found a good one that worked. I have been wearing it for four years now and also the helmet is a little thicker foam, the one that Patty LaFontaine used when he came back.

STEVE RUCCHIN: Scoring the overtime winner, of course. The I think the biggest thing is you just dream -- you just hope for this opportunity, and we have been given this opportunity . We did a great job tonight to give ourself a chance in Game 7. That's all you can ask for. Here we are. We're feeling good about ourselves and the way we're playing right now. We need to continue. Of course, it is going to be an exciting game. But we're looking forward to it and we're ready. We all have another long flight tomorrow.