04/13/2011 – PensReport: Kris Letang
During today’s presser with Coach Dan Bylsma from Pens Report:
On Letang’s point production dropping:
This is not the first time I’ve had a question on if you need one player to score or be a point factor. We’re going to win this game or lose this game whether Kris Letang gets a point or not. It will be a factor on how he defends, how he plays his 22-27 minutes, how he defends against the top lines, how he executes with the puck going back. Those are going to be key factors for our team. Whether he gets a point or not doesn’t mean we’ll win the game or not. Sure it would be nice for him to have a five-point night. That would be great, but he’s got to defend and play against the other teams’ top lines, limit their time and space, use his skill and ability to help us play our game. If he does that, then that’s how he’ll help us be a good team tonight.
Kris Letang:
On the emotions for the first game of the playoffs:
Right now I think it’s just like every other day, except everyone is just really excited. It felt like a regular morning skate, but I think tonight when you get to the arena and see the crowd and everything, it’s going to be when we’ll start to get a little nervous and more excited.
On the difference between playoffs and the regular season:
Obviously the intensity is going to go up. Guys are going to finish their checks. You have to expect everybody to give a second effort on every play. So you just have to raise your tempo, make sure you’re taking short shifts and playing intense for the whole game.
On stepping up his game come playoffs:
It’s the most exciting part of the year. Yes, it’s fun to play in the regular season, but what we want to do is be part of the playoffs and play during this exciting part of the year. I just try to step up my game and help my team.
