We anticipated a lot better out of ourselves over these two games here in Alberta because we really had been playing really well as a team.

We certainly anticipated more out of our two games in Alberta.

You need to win 75 to 80 percent of your home games (to make the playoffs).

The more games players get to play the more chance they have to make the team.

Ballard's hit tonight was a tremendous hit. I haven't seen that in hockey in 30 years, a hip check like that. We've got to keep believing what we're trying to accomplish here and stay within ourselves, not get too emotionally excited and not get too down, simple as that.

It's always a tough situation when a great player has to retire. He's meant so much to not only the National Hockey League, but the city of Pittsburgh and that franchise. You don't replace players like Mario Lemieux. He's a great hockey player and a good person. The game will miss him.