Lindy Ruff
Lindy Ruff
Lindy Cameron Ruffis a Canadian professional ice hockey coach and former player. Ruff is the current head coach for the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League. During his playing career, Ruff played in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres and New York Rangers. Ruff was previously the head coach of the Sabres from 1997 to 2013 and won the Jack Adams Award as Coach of the Year in 2006...
biggest days guy high hole individual level maintained repeating scrappy skating throughout tough
It's what our team's been about. It's a willingness for every individual to get dirty, every guy to take it to the hole and not have too many days off. Every guy has a tough night, but don't keep repeating it. He doesn't. He's a scrappy little skater. He's maintained a very high level of skating throughout the year. It's probably been his biggest asset.
believe confidence difference level
Our confidence level right now is at a level where they just believe they can make the difference late.
beginning finish game league level sees tries work year
He sees the game a little differently sometimes. Some of the things he tries at this level will work in the American League but won't work here. But if you told me at the beginning of the year he'd finish with 25, 26 goals, I'd be happy.
against almost asked case chose few games happened hold instead last league level near occasions past players playing point practicing seen several staying
I've asked him on several occasions to go and play, more for just staying ready. Instead of practicing here, go play. But that's happened in the past where players have chose not to go. I don't hold that against them. They almost feel that practicing at this level is better than playing at the American League level. I've seen a few American League games and it isn't near what it was last year. So there may be a case in point for that.
lifts psyche
I think it would've been a very big disappointment if we didn't win. You don't know what (a loss) would've done to the psyche of a young team. But to win, that lifts everybody.
until
He just doesn't feel right. Until we get him through that, he won't be skating.
contact mean program resume severe time week
He's been put on the concussion program again, but the first one was so severe I think the program may go longer. There's no set time on when he can be back or when he can even resume practice. Symptom-free for a week doesn't necessarily mean he can have contact again. That could take weeks.
bite chance
I thought that chance was going to come back to bite us, but it didn't.
conversation
He wasn't out, but he wasn't there. I had a conversation with him and it was more like a conversation with myself.
couple few knocked ran
He was noticed. He ran over a few bodies. He knocked Fitzpatrick down a couple times.
fairly handled team
It's been the one team that has really handled us fairly easily. There's no disguising that. We need to make a statement.
allowed coming defensive key period plays power statement third trying win
I thought coming out in the third period we really set the tone. We made a statement that we were trying to go after it. We went after it hard. We got some key saves, some key defensive plays that allowed our power play to win the game.
best ice player quality time
He didn't get the quality ice time of some of our players, but he made the best of the ice time he did get. I thought he was our best player on the ice in the first period.
explain guys lost number stand tough
It would've been tough to stand here and explain to you guys why they had our number if we would've lost again. It's satisfying.