Danault: ‘We have to work harder to earn a better result’

TORONTO – The Canadiens were dealt a 5-1 loss by the Maple Leafs on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena, evening the series at 1-1.

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Following the game, forwards Phillip Danault and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, goaltender Carey Price, and interim head coach Dominique Ducharme spoke with reporters via Zoom.

Here are a few highlights from their respective chats:

Danault on the Habs’ struggles to generate offense at even-strength:

We lost momentum because of the penalties. We had a good start. We deserved some of the penalties, but not all of them. We all know that we can play better. We have to work harder to earn a better result.

Video: Phillip Danault on the effect of the Habs’ penalties

Danault on why the Maple Leafs were successful with the man advantage:

I’d say it’s because they generated scoring chances. They got momentum and they capitalized on that.

Kotkaniemi on his first appearance in this series:

I felt pretty good during the first period. There were a lot of penalties in the second, so I think that killed a little bit of the game for me and maybe our team a little bit, just kind of being in the box that much. We just have to keep it 5-on-5.

Video: Jesperi Kotkaniemi on his first game of the playoffs

Kotkaniemi on his goal celebration that included a four-finger salute to the Canadiens’ healthy scratches:

We had a good week of practice with the guys that didn’t play tonight. We did it in the locker room before, so that was our thing.

Price on the challenge presented by the Maple Leafs on the power play:

They move the puck around well and they have shooting threats from both sides. They’ve got some top-notch talent.

Video: Carey Price on the loss to the Leafs

Price on the Canadiens trying to regroup in the third period after a difficult second:

It’s definitely important. We knew we were still in the game and still had a chance to come back. We’ve done it before this season and it didn’t work out for us tonight.

Ducharme on his players’ penalty troubles in Game 2:

I really liked our first period. The momentum changed in the second. It wasn’t us who changed it, though, and it wasn’t the Maple Leafs either.

Video: Dominique Ducharme on his in-game adjustments

Ducharme on what he’ll retain from the loss:

We’ll just hold onto the first period from this game. We’ll focus on what we can do better and make sure to be ready for Game 3. We’re leaving Toronto with a win, so we’re in a good spot.