DS: It seems as though the North Stars are getting healthy at the right moments. Getting Dustin Gorgi back was big, but now having a healthy Reed Delainey back in the lineup for a full round must be a morale boost for your locker room.
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KH: We are confident in our roster and excited to see what our lineup will do at the Whitney Forum. The players are motivated to play the game at a level that is a reflection of the season they earned.
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DS: Game one was one of the best defensive games from both teams this season. Tyler Fuhr and Brenden Newton put on an absolute show in front of over 1,800 fans at the Civic Centre. What kind of adjustments did you make throughout the game and what was your plan on beating Newton, a goalie who has been on a bit of a hot streak this playoffs?
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KH: We made minor adjustments in that game. When goalies are performing as well as Newton and Fuhr are, you need to put more traffic and more pucks to the net. Flin Flon did a great job of blocking shots and plugging up the slot area, we have to show a determined effort to get into those areas to beat a hot goalie.
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DS: What was the message going into the first intermission in game two? There were many uncharacteristic turnovers in the defensive zone, but after that the North Stars really poured it on. What does it say about your team, having the ability to come back from a 3-1 deficit to take the game into overtime?
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KH: I think everyone in our dressing room was not happy with how we played over the course of the first two games. Our puck management wasn't at a level that we are capable of, and we are confident our players will be better in game three. We want to generate more speed through the neutral zone and in order to do that, we have to be cleaner coming out of our zone.
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DS: After round one, it was your top line that had scored 14 of the 18 goals. Now you are getting offensive support up and down the lineup. The energy line of Baxter Kanter, Rory Davidson and Logan Nachtegaele has been absolutely fantastic in all three zones on the ice thus far. Was getting offensive production from all four lines something you addressed going into your series against Flin Flon?
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KH: Production from all four lines is the key ingredient for success in the SJHL. It may not be in the form of offensive production, however, all players have to contribute to the cause. When we are able to generate goals from lines that play defensive roles, the team get's excited and you want to play harder. The Davidson line has been fantastic this series.
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DS: Dropping two very close games at home, it's evident that the North Stars could easily be on top 2-0 instead of trailing by two games. What kind of mentality does the team have heading into hostile territory? Are you taking it one game at a time? Certainly if any team can mount a come back from 0-2, its the regular season champions.
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KH: We definitely take things one game at a time. We control the things we can control and we get excited to play. The Whitney is a fun place to play and we are excited for the challenge that we face going into game three. We have to earn our bounces and we have to earn the small victories on the ice. Our players are ready and we are prepared to compete and work hard to get the series back to even terms.
