MTL@WPG: Quotes of the day

WINNIPEG – Forwards Corey Perry and Paul Byron, and interim head coach Dominique Ducharme spoke with reporters via Zoom on Monday morning ahead of the Canadiens’ matchup against the Jets at Bell MTS Place.

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Here are a few highlights from their respective chats:

Perry was asked to share what the Canadiens must do in order to emerge victorious on Monday night:

We have to be ready to play. You look at last game and what happened in the first period, we talked about it, we addressed it. We know what’s at stake. These points are huge. You’re playing your division every single night, so you have to be ready. From what we’ve seen yesterday at practice and the attitude this morning, we’ll be ready and we’ll be fresh.

Video: Corey Perry on the Canadiens’ depth

The veteran right-winger is adamant that the Habs have all the ingredients necessary to get back on the winning track immediately:

The way we played them [the Jets] at home, and then we went on the road into Vancouver, the way we played there, you just take out those two games in Calgary. I like the way we’ve been playing. We showed that we can play with the big teams. We’re a deep team. We’re a four-line hockey team, we have six defensemen who can play every single night, and we have two goalies that are world-class. I like where we are. We’ve just got to go out and prove it.

Byron, meanwhile, discussed the possibility of playing center for a second straight game:

Every game I play at center, the more comfortable I feel. I have to be the first one back to help the defensemen in our zone. I always want to give everything I have for the team. It’s a big game for us. We’re going to do everything in our power to win.

Video: Paul Byron on playing center

He also detailed some keys to besting the Jets in their own barn:

We have to use our legs tonight. We’re a very good team when we skate and we’re on the puck. We have to forecheck right from the start and give our best effort on every shift. We must be ready to play. Winnipeg is a very good team. We’ll have to be at our best. Everyone has to work.

For his part, Ducharme updated the health status of Phillip Danault and shared one key lineup change:

Phillip is questionable for the game. We’ll make a decision later today with respect to his injury. On defense, Xavier Ouellet will take Victor Mete’s spot. Ouellet has a lot of experience. He’s a competitor, and we feel that we need him in the lineup tonight.

Video: Ducharme on the preparations to face the Jets

Ducharme talked about the challenge the Jets present as well:

They have two lines that are producing well offensively. Their third line plays the right way. They’re capable of generating offense as well, just in a different way. Their fourth line brings a lot of energy. That’s a team that has dealt with a lot of things in recent years. They’ve matured. They’re playing well right now. Our games against them this year were very close. We played good hockey. We didn’t always pick up two points. We lost on some 3-on-3 plays. We want to get back to playing our game and focus on our strengths. We’re confident that we can get results.