NHL STANLEY CUP FINALS: DEVILS v AVALANCHE

May 27, 2001

Scott Stevens

SCOTT STEVENS: Possibly. There is always that possibility, but we just didn't play with that. We didn't skate that well and they played pretty well. But the game is played on the ice and we have to do a lot better job in a lot of areas. We will make changes and we will be better next game.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, not as good as I like to play. Sometimes things happen.

SCOTT STEVENS: It seems to be that way. Hopefully that trend will continue with the next game, so there is no question we -- I don't think we skated as well and played aggressive a hockey game as we'd like to play. Looked like we were a little tentative. But there is no question we have had those types of games in every series and hopefully that will be the last one in this series.

SCOTT STEVENS: It seems like he likes to come from behind with speed. And the other players are aware of him coming. He winds up, gets speed, comes from behind, so we will to have be looking for that. Like I said, we are going to make changes and hopefully that will help our game and nullify that to a certain extent

.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, I don't really think about it like that, but you know, this is the biggest time of year right now. I don't think a lot has to be said, we have worked hard to get to this point, put a lot of game hours in and we have to be ready to play every night and you know, maybe they played a great game. Maybe we were just a little bit off or a bit of both. But there is no question we are looking for a much better effort the next game.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, obviously you don't like to lose. You never like to lose and never like to lose like that. But it is one game and we have got to improve and learn from it and get better and you need four games to win the Stanley Cup right now. That's one game and they got the first game and now we are looking to rebound.

SCOTT STEVENS: This is pretty much common in any game when the game is pretty much over, a team's not having a good night, that those things tend to happen. I think it is just human nature and that's part of hockey. You pretty much see that every time.

SCOTT STEVENS: It's possible. I don't know how to answer that question but that's a possibility. Maybe because we beat them twice in the regular season, that could be a possibility also, but it is obvious we know what is at task here now and we have seen the Avalanche play pretty good game, so I think that's going to make us much more aware of the next game and be ready to play. No one likes to lose like that, and we are going to be ready for the next game.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well, you like to do that every shift if you could but it is just not possible. When you are playing against good skilled players you have to be smart and sometimes it asks for a different game. The Avalanche and the people I am usually playing against are pretty skilled players so you have to be smart. You don't want to take yourself out of position but obviously it would be nice to hit those people if you can and as much as you can, but the puck is just as important at times; taking away the passing and shooting lanes is just as important. But every game is different and we will see what happens the next game.

SCOTT STEVENS: Well they really stretched us out. They put a guy up high at post and tried to get the puck to him. He either tips it to the middle or he dumps it in and the other two guys are coming with speed. We are aware of what they are doing. Like I said we have to make adjustments and that's why it is a 7-game series.

SCOTT STEVENS: Yeah, I recall that. That's what it is. One game you put it aside and maybe after we beat Dallas that game we were feeling pretty good about ourselves too. I am sure Colorado is feeling pretty good about themselves and they should be they played a pretty good game. We need to play better.

SCOTT STEVENS: If we can get, you know, they did a lot of line changing, did a lot of short shifts, and it was tough to get out there at the right time. Like I said they did short shifts and that made it tough to get to the matchups. But they did; had a good game plan. They were, like I said before, they basically had a guy posted up and two guys coming up with speed. It was tough for the "D" to stand up. I think we were a little tentative, weren't aggressive as we'd like to be; didn't really force their defense as much as we'd like to. Hopefully that will change next game.