NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: CAPITALS v RED WINGS

June 9, 1998

Adam Oates

ADAM OATES: We have played against them a couple of times this year. Scotty Bowman teams, you know, they talk about that left wing a lot. They are very sound defensively and don't give you really that much.

ADAM OATES: Well, I don't have an answer for you right now. Obviously it is something we are going to talk about. We are definitely not happy. We really didn't generate any chances at all on it. But that is definitely something we want to work on.

ADAM OATES: Maybe a few nerves; a little jitters. First five minutes we were okay. As soon as they got the one, then we give them another one. Other than ten minutes of hockey game, I thought it was pretty even. You don't want to give a team a win. I just thought that they scored the first goal and we had a little let-down for a few minutes. Maybe a little, you know, like you uh-oh, for five, ten minutes and then other than that, as I said, it was pretty even.

ADAM OATES: You obviously want that first goal. We do have guys who can score, so, two goal lead is not something you want to give to the Detroit Red Wings. You don't want to give it to anybody at this level. If you look at the statistics this year with all the traps, the way the game has changed a little bit, two goals is a big lead.

ADAM OATES: I don't think so. As I have been saying, other than the first ten minutes I thought we played a pretty hard and even game. But, they are obviously a good team. They are going to play better so we have to play better.

ADAM OATES: Maybe second and third period we picked it up a little bit, but powerplay kind of let us down. We really didn't generate anything. For ten minutes we gave them the hockey game.

ADAM OATES: I'd like to play better than I did. I didn't really feel that I had my best stuff tonight. I am not real sure why. But, you know, we obviously want a better result. We need to chip in a little bit more.