NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: MIGHTY DUCKS v DEVILS

June 3, 2003

Scott Niedermayer

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Yeah, I think so. I think in the last couple of games he's been making the first statement. He obviously does very well. We haven't been doing as good of a job as we did in the first couple of games in getting in there so he can't see the shots so well.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: I think she might be getting used to it a little bit now. She's kind of settled in and is just enjoying it now.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: No, not on the ice. I've only talked to him a couple times since the series started. Neither of us say a whole lot on the ice to each other or any of the other guys on the ice.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: I would say that's probably the dominant theme so far. I think we did play well at home and obviously they did. And the trick for us now is that we're back at home for one game, is to keep that going and when we get out there to Game 6, to find ways to play better over there. Right now we'll deal with Game 5.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Yeah, short series now. Three games, every game is very, very important now. We have to be at our best in a couple nights.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: There is a lot that goes on in -- especially in the Final, Stanley Cup Finals, a lot of things being said. I really don't pay attention to too much of it.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: No, not really. Even someone asked a question to that earlier in the playoffs, and I kind of felt he was pretty much the same as he had been all year, even in the playoffs. I think that's good. He knows how we know how he handles things and that hasn't changed.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: As a coach you talk and go over things all the time. I don't know if I really remember the first time.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: It's been good. I've enjoyed it. He's the guy that lets you know what he's thinking. A lot of times that's really what you want to have. When you know where you stand and what's expected of you and those sorts of things, when it's laid out black and white, things are pretty simple.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: I'm sure there was a lot of disappointment in our room, especially after last game, to lose both games there. We've shortened the series now and every game is that much more important. I mean, that was probably how we felt a bit after the game. You can't afford to carry those very long. You have to be ready to go again and try to get back to our best hockey.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Well, I would agree. They have been pretty aggressive, and we haven't had a time where we've managed to set up for too long, whether that's because we're taking shots too soon or because they've done a good job of their penalty-kill. I think it's an area if we want to have an opportunity to win games, it's an important part of the game and we're going to need it to help us out.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Well, there hasn't been a lot of goals scored, period. I don't know. I think both teams go out and they know what their game plan is. They definitely stick with that, especially early on. Maybe after a few more mistakes made as the game goes on. I don't know.