Naturally, this wasn't the way we wanted to start. We would have liked to have put on a better show.

The bats came alive today.

He's a guy who has gone to the post for me and Stu (Wings pitching coach Stu Cliburn ) many times in the past. He's a bulldog and a great competitor.

I've got 24 guys and I'm going to play everybody. You don't have to worry about keeping the nine starters happy. They're playing. I want the guys on the bench to always be ready at the beck and call.

I've always said that early in the season when it's cold it's important to score first. Pitching and defense are the name of the game, and we had both today.

With the talent we have here, that's a real, real good possibility that we're going to end that drought in '97 when the Red Wings won their last championship. I'm the man to do it and I think I can back it up.