NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: DEVILS v AVALANCHE

June 1, 2001

Scott Niedermayer

Scott Stevens

SCOTT STEVENS: We don't want to go back there down 3 games to 1. It is a huge game for us much like the second game in Colorado was. We will go out there and have our best and do whatever it takes to win.

SCOTT STEVENS: There are lots of things we can do. You can always second guess yourself.

SCOTT STEVENS: Nobody plans these things. You obviously want to win every game. It's not a perfect world. That's why winning Stanley Cups are hard to do and because it takes a lot of effort and it takes ups and downs. Obviously, this isn't the time you want to have ups and downs, but like I said, they are up one game on us right now. You need 4 games to win. We will get to tomorrow's game and --

SCOTT STEVENS: Obviously, you have got to talk about things. Hoping that talking would solve some problems and get us back on track. Bottom line is got to play for 60 minutes and staying with the system and working out of it.

SCOTT STEVENS: At this point, got to come to play. This is too important. We are down to basically. One week left after such a long hard season and it is not much to ask one more week to get the job done.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, the biggest thing is Playoff hockey backchecking is more important. Guys are committed to backchecking more and it is a big part. You have to get the puck in deep. You have to get the puck going to the net. You can't turn it over the blue line. You can't have the fancy long drop passes because there's people coming back so you have got to take it to the net, got to work it down low and that's the biggest difference right now.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, nothing is in stone, but sure they are a good team and it will be a big challenge no question about that. You don't want to put yourself in that situation.

SCOTT STEVENS: Just get the puck in deep and like I said, we worked hard at the start. Just keep going that same way. Might not pay-off the first or second period but it could be the third period where you get your goals or you get your chance to score. You can't get frustrated because they are checking tight. You have got fight through it and work through those tough times. If you do that, like I said, you work hard you get some breaks

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Not desperation, but rather be in a different situation, but we still have an opportunity to even the series up tomorrow.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Yes.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Since the second game.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Yes.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: I just felt normal. Like I had a headache.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Lightheadedness.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: He is getting lot of good hits in. Even more than any other team in these Playoffs. They are doing a good job at all these things for sure. They are doing a good job at getting the puck in, you know, Marty can't get out and help us out and when they do that, their forwards are doing anything they can to get in on us.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: Not really. I think that happens in the Playoffs. Everybody is out there working as hard as they can getting in front of pucks and doing things to prevent goals from going in so they are just that much harder to come by.

SCOTT NIEDERMAYER: I think it is just a matter of continuing to try and do it and supposed -- if we go out and do it for a few shifts and maybe don't get a good scoring chance and/or don't score a goal, don't try and stop doing it, just keep doing it. We don't really have any other choice. It is just a matter of staying with it as long as it takes.