Kimmo Timonen says the Flyers need to improve their game a lot going into the playoffs, and the biggest need is to add more speed in the game.
“We should find our skating again; that’s our strength. We have to get our game back in the right track during these last regular season games. We have to get some wins in these last few games.”
“We won’t go deep in the playoffs with the way we’ve played lately.”
“When we get our skating going we’re one of the best teams in the league.”
Despite the inconsistent results and effort in the past few games, the situation as a whole is easier this year than it was last year.
“Now we can focus on the playoffs. But we still have important games left. We need to get that right kind of feeling going into the playoffs.”
Timonen doesn’t expect an easy opponent in the 1st round, whoever it will be.
“Last year showed us that every team that makes the playoffs is tough. Whoever it will be, there won’t be any easy games.”
“Our goal is to win every game and be first in the conference; that’s still our goal. We need intensity every night to be successful; that’s what the coach keeps telling us.”
“Sometimes we just haven’t had that energy. It’s happened to different lines at different times.”
“Losing isn’t fun”, Ville Leino sums up. “We want to be number one and we need to get a few points from these last few games. It’s not always easy, but you have to try.”
Leino doesn’t have any favorites to face in the 1st round either.
“They’re all good teams, but they’re also all beatable.”
Leino says it’s possible that losing in the finals last year might give the team that final extra push this year.
“Maybe it will give us that last bit of motivation.”
This report was based off of a Finnish-language story released by STT.
