12-20-06 Dave Lewis - Boston Bruins Head Coach

right now. Is the head coach of the Boston Bruins Dave Lewis good morning David. Well fellas Gloria. They're doing great congratulations that was pretty fulfilling last night.

Yeah that's pretty -- and from our perspective that's for sure and you know lots of emotion going into the game with Peter surely end. But they torturer returning to ought to walk for the first time and the guys played well we played hard for them.

Now you say that there's lots of emotion going into the game and usually what would Chara -- asked about returning to Ottawa or playing Ottawa he says -- we got another job do got a job to do it to another opponent but do you think that a motion do you think guys and even affects the way they plan.

Well in -- nothing was really set I don't think anything had to be said to people all worked you know players know Horry played and they nor Peter came from them you know and he says best after the game the most important thing was a two points and that really was the most important -- guys. You know responded well right from the start continued on and so unusual to see your teams score that many goals and one game which was my agency.

Debut you kind of shuffle things around a little bit in the first period and I read a quote from yet in this morning's paper that it was part of the plan that you had going in and you -- when it while what's the plan

Vancouver's -- analyst with a survey what they did was I I used. Three lions but I reached liners for players. So on the first -- for example but it was Marcos purpose trash Patrice Bergeron and established club changed thought so but three of those he made the play. And then on Primoz line I was using -- my hours and Donovan. And then Stastny was going a little bit not a lot with us of -- line so you know basically going retreat centers and ending you know having you know three wingers. If that makes sense.

No -- and and it's exactly the way it that I saw last night I was trying to figure out. What you're what you were trying to accomplish with -- 'cause I kinda thought it was kind of a unique way to approach.

If you look at the Ottawa game before they have a liner for client never put on the race once an -- that was by design and their part because of buffalo and you know their -- but they had -- that was her last appointment. And I thought a little bit of -- that afternoon but I felt that in. If you look at the that type of player that that the line of about Stastny -- and she's talked is. You know like she stops are really still talented given -- think two games certainly it will -- think -- game a certain -- or straight lines it's an unfortunate hello like Donovan and -- more my hours. And then Yan Stastny easterners young -- that the complain -- And you know he didn't get quite as much ice time at all Wayne -- credit that incidents so that was the reason the try to put people with the right mix of players could make them successful.

You mention that incident between primeau and Brian -- grad. What did you think of a grip in the -- actions during that fight.

Well my from my perspective on the bench and then watching it again a number of times last night and even this morning it looked to me that it was not a ought to check as much as a forearm attempt to go after three most -- had and that's not acceptable it in my horizon and that's what touched Wayne demotion because his brother's just retired or had to be forced to retire because of a number of concussions and blows to they had so it's too close to home and that's why he responded the way did I'm sure I didn't ask him yet but I know that. You know how these guys think a little bit and you know what your background is so it was a it was a blow that. To meet the intent looked like he was going actors had.

In that case specifically -- wondering did you take something like that to the league and in general how often do you talk to league officials about some things that you see on the --

Well I haven't talked a lot a couple of times speeders talk maybe a bit more and I'm the league refused you know they hit from behind and blows to the head even if there was in the penalty called. Blows to the header are one of the mean hot topics in the league this year because of the concussions because of you know -- beat the depths of an injury like that can haven't on a player on a franchise so those are very. You -- concerns of the players to coaches and that the NHL management the upper level people's so it's probably. An automatic thing that they're looking at a but there's so many games every night like last night there's a whole bunch games so I'm not exactly sure if they've had a chance to look after our.

Where US concerned about that he'd sit on some bard for the same reason

yes that was you know that's happened twice now on the same players and ball double incidences and the -- picked up -- made -- called but boy you hate to see anybody you know vulnerable position like that -- of hard. Per team and then getting is you don't hit hit into the class and upper dasher boards there you know very seriously is going to happen here.

I know it's a long season Dave that you are here last year when the Bruins play at Ottawa and played them fairly well you you've played them this year he went all your games against them. Why do you think this team seems to be favorable matchup for.

Boy I have no idea. You know out of the first it was a -- came close game you know on the social game two I think it was a 21 the next game was another one single game but -- higher score. And for whatever reason last place came just to have everything that we did -- everything that they -- went wrong -- that some make you have those in assists sort of hard to explain but you know what the characteristic tight game for us with you know scored so many goals would. But the thing that I like -- last night's game was our penalty killing was really important force -- especially early on were killed off a couple of runs early in -- played was exciting as it has been for most of the year.

I I know you're not able to and I wouldn't ask you to talk about Phil -- from a medical perspective but I saw you standing there at the press conference Saturday as I was. And I'm wondering if you came away with the same impression I did that this is a young man he's only 19 years old who really seemed to have himself together considering the week he'd just been through.

Tremendous amount of courage you know we talked about it internally here with the coaches and and Peter and -- straight that you know -- we didn't get an opportunity to see we saw this this it is strong. He's he's determined he's excited to vote his career and he knew that the going into that Saturday game that there was something definitely not right with -- you know to play through that to have the week -- differ for himself for his family and just at that point but it 19 year old to answer the questions and tough questions that. You know not easy to answer all the time because say they are very personally touched him very deeply that -- tremendous job in mountain you know we're looking forward to having them practice and like thank all the -- said. -- going to be are pretty soon against week in LA area so it's not just for.

Do you do you look back. At the last couple of months of built castles on ice performance differently now knowing what you know now that you don't know them.

No not at all because you don't public at that time is just too young player trying to figure out his game and the league so. I don't know all what ramifications of like medically I don't know what you know -- effects. You know the data daylight of of an antibody level or an athlete at in a high pressure position like that so I don't often have very good not to be like speculation on my part. And I looked more to the future just you know getting embark on the -- you know getting his conditioning back -- them letting him have fun with this team and it's.

When you found out the news about Cassell how did you address that with the entire team.

Today I've talked -- prior to addressing the team and of course. Jeter sure Elliott talk to the parents in the agent is smothered his father -- and -- himself and you know with the doctors and everybody else involved in that loop. And -- mention to fill that I am you know your teammates have to know as they're going to be your biggest support group they're going to be your family that's really not your family but they're the closest thing you have in this world other than your mother father brothers sisters and aunts uncles so the players started new car prior to my statement some of them did anyway. But -- that was in there it was official and it was a very emotional moment for for felt particularly am for the whole group. And just to give an example of after. After Phil is cleared medically cancer free that make that presentation to the team to the team all plaudits so they're pretty sizable.

Well when your when your 19 years old and you've heard the word cancer for a week. To sit beside a doctor and have the doctors say he's cured it was just an amazing moment.

Yeah it was an amazing moments in everybody was excited and you know just so thankful that two you know he can continue on was something that he loves so much.

Dave as you said when do you think you'll get the opportunity to yell at them again.

Well right now he is he is in Wisconsin celebrating christmas for the first time in four years with his family you will be coming back to the Boston area after that the team -- is on the road. Seoul sometime before the New Year he will be bomb back on ice hopefully if he feels fine and everything is well. Before he's enormously -- to do that he's going to probably have to you know make sure that his check that everything is you know continuing on his first team and things like so that's sort of a time for.

Let's talk about two D fence for a moment as a group. The points maybe haven't -- what some people expected in some cases is scoring from the back line concerning -- at all

not last night it wasn't.

Now last night no no

well I think this -- You know I think all American contribute more in that breath then lastly you saw an example of a sharp. He's got an unbelievable shot that is it doesn't he has seemed issue is not forbidden in good shooting position jets but my big concern is defense first I want -- to take care of old bears own my want them to be able to join the rush when it's appropriate time I don't want them waste energy going up and down on the -- haven't conserve it used in the defense's own. But when there's that moment to do it -- you know us do we get the other night jumped into the slot making shot in the play my I think those things are really that's I think it'll come I think a team is still learning about each other and no worse third of the -- and I think we can get better.

You play good defense last night not so much at on Saturday against Jersey was in sixth at three but overall -- are are you are you confident that everybody at least understands. What you want them to do and they -- and and that's not going to be an issue.

Yeah I think you're getting it you know we've had some peaks and valleys but I think they're basically getting yet they are you know understanding what we want I think you're getting more and more comfortable with each other they've had a few get together as a group you know the team the organization is at a team party just the other night so you know that all helps and in the process that we do as long as were consistent that's I think that's important thing in to date I think we've been pretty consistent thing. Pretty demanding in in a lot of things that. Maybe York talk double publicly we've addressed privately and that's that's been couldn't help -- force.

He had some big offensive nights last night from guys like some -- in Bergeron in Murray in Sturm and I know you and I have talked about you're starting to see Bergeron Boyes and Sturm kind of round into what we have seen in the past are you getting closer to that the thank.

On the DL last night's game -- for example like -- stop was on the line once and Dempster me get a power play goal once and in Boise need to really get played diverge. Upped -- on one two dimarco so -- locked my immediate goal line wasn't as as still as. Offensive is everybody -- because the people look up the point but they are coming together yes.

But she stopped and treat me when he was in Anaheim and and they moved on from him. A lot of talent obviously what is there one thing that -- when you got him in your hands under your control what you want him to do that he wasn't doing before.

I think opportunity and I still think that I have to do a better job of giving him more of an opportunity I thought. Last night that you saw some examples of this play making ability is hockey sense and restraint though offensively and defensively you know he's he's not a big guy but he he's strong he's got unbelievable balanced honesty he's got good vision restricted patience with the park. And now he just -- into area -- is playing more important six minutes six to seven minutes and that's that's up to the coaching staff the put him -- that spot but we've liked everything we've -- he's an upbeat really positive young guy. That's but it really low 13 -- waters teammates.

Final question from me that there have been times when when your team has been little inconsistent and I use Saturday night last night is as exit today. Is that primarily a function of new role in getting to know each other sister or is there some other ingredient involved here.

I think that's Normal process in the NHL. Neither team that I think every team would be like that if you look at trying to make police if you look at auto larger look at. Minnesota if you look at Edmonton cleaners it's it's hard to play the same at the same level every night I think your opponent has something to do it but I think the scheduling delete the personal issues. So that's sort of part of not many teams can start and then play right out the gate and play 82 consistent solid games I just think that's part of the new -- opposite new NHL legislators part of the NH also what you try to do. If you try to limit. And hope that your system more balance. Oh -- players that maybe aren't so having a good night maybe they aren't feeling well there could be some blues going around it could be just tired emotionally and physically he hoped that the system or somebody can pick it up but I just think that's pretty Normal.

And -- you sort of failed in your attempts to disguise today you know char in auto and sneak him in an out of town

they didn't they didn't fall off that trick or reversed his letters and his numbers but. Retrieved his reverse just --

Am I figured it out congratulations on the win last night we'll see if the rank Gary thank -- holidays the -- of thanks Dave Dave Lewis the head coach of the Boston Bruins. Who -- whose team had a big win last night Ottawa -- the Vancouver Canucks tomorrow night at the garden and the the Montreal Canadians on Saturday at the garden kind of wrap up the pre christmas