Canucks Game Night
As we learned here yesterday, Canucks forward J.T. Miller will play against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers on Thursday night.
“I’m excited, he’s excited, the players are excited, he’s one of the best players in the league, so when you get a guy like that back in the line-up, it means a lot,” Canucks head coach Rick Tocchet said Thursday morning.
This was Miller’s availability in its entirety:
“I am playing tonight, and I really would appreciate if we just stayed away from the reasons why I wasn’t here. From all of you guys, you can ask all you want, but I’m not going to dive into the reasons why I wasn’t here the last three or four weeks. So I’m here with the team, and I am ready to look forward to what’s going to happen in the future, not necessarily what has happened in the past. So I know you guys are going to ask no matter what, but I’m just going to say, not talking about it. But I just want to let you guys know ahead of time.”
– How you doin’? –
“Yeah, I’m excited to play. I want to play, and you know, obviously fun game to play against the defending champion. So just happy to be around the guys and looking forward to tonight.”
– What have you seen from Canucks? –
“They’re finding ways to win, getting contributions from a lot of different guys. You know, obviously, with myself and Fil’ (Filip Hronek) and “Demmer” (Thatcher Demko) having some injuries, there’s been guys that have stepped up, and it’s been nice to see, that’s a heck of road trip by those guys. It’s a lot of travel, a lot of games, and to come back home and get a couple points. Has been nice. So obviously, we’re just trying to … it’s been good. But, you know, we got a hard schedule the next week.”
– How hard to be away? –
“Yeah, it sucks, no matter what it’s for. You know, this is a family away from family here, and I missed the guys, and just excited to be around them and get back and compete.”
– Support from team? –
“It’s been a lot from everybody, my agent, my family, and then obviously the guys here, everybody’s been awesome.”
– How about the fans chanting your name at events? –
“I’m pretty out of the loop on it, but whatever it was, I appreciate it.”
– Coming back, like riding a bike? –
Yeah, I hope so. But obviously, I’m sure rust is expected. I think this weekend is four weeks (away). So I’m gonna try to keep it easy on myself. Play my game. Try to keep it simple. Try to play physical. You know, things that I can control.”
– When you knew you were playing tonight? –
“Pretty much yesterday.”
– Test against the defending champs? –
“For the group, it’s a great test. It’s going to be a fun game, obviously, I think the building is going to be awesome, and we know what to expect from them, so I think it’s important we just worry about ourselves and go and do what we know. When we do that, we give ourselves a chance against anybody.”
– Having Demko back. –
“Yeah, it’s cool. You know, I admire what he’s been able to accomplish and overcome, and for him to be out there, and being able to watch him last game, it’s pretty special. I know it meant a lot to him and a lot to the guys, to see him back there. It’s awesome.”
– Will you bring the same level of emotion? –
“I told you I wasn’t … I feel like we’re toting the line here with that question, so I’m just not going to dive into it.”
– Stayed in shape? –
“Yeah, I take care of myself.”
– Did you watch Canucks games closely, or stay away from it? –
“A little bit of both. Yeah.”
