We always seem to play better when the competition is tougher. With my guys winning the other night [2-1 in overtime over Passaic Valley] in a tough game, that really helped them. They love the fact that they had to fight to win.

Putting down the power right from the whistle would be ugly and brutal, but it would get the job done. He wanted to tell her that, but this was the thing with coaching: you had to step back at exactly the moment you ached to step forward.

I've been enjoying it, getting a chance to play against top competition. Even when I was younger, playing high school in Natchez, a lot of people wouldn't have expected me to play at this level. It's been fun.

Our (third and fourth line) is gonna be important, a big factor, especially when you play every other night for the rest of the season. The third and fourth lines have to pick it up and be the difference most nights.

Ricky's a very competitive guy and he's in competition with those guys for time on that team. If I know him, it will bring out the best in him.

These guys, on a good night, are tough to play against.