But what did it take to close things out late as they got momentum there in the third?

Yeah, you know, they finally got some momentum, in my opinion.

I thought we played a really strong game, especially the first 40.

And I think we responded the second half of that period.

I think we did have some luck.

Obviously, it's a skilled hockey team, so they got an extra man at the end there.

And, you know, they're going to coast made some good saves, and maybe we got away with one.

First time we've seen you and Barrett and Clayton Keller together.

What's it like to see a young player like that score their first goal and get

the game win? I said it after he scored the first one, it's a good-looking first goal.

But just so fun, to be honest.

It's fun to see a young player like Seema come in, play the way he has all year, but then get rewarded tonight with a big one.

A big night that I think he'll remember for a long time.

Your first time winning in overtime in this building, what was that environment like? It was great.

The crowd was great all night.

Is it cool to see him hit a milestone, or would you rather have that in a different game?

What was the message after this game? Because obviously not the cleanest, but you guys were able to power through against a really tough team.

I think we, one of those nights, something seemed to happen every shift.

We needed all facets of our game.

And I think, especially in the third period, but regardless what had happened before that, we stuck to our plan and got to our game.

And we really got to it in the third.

But we put ourselves in a great position by coming back before that.

Just part of the group that we settled in and didn't get away from what we needed to do tonight.

What's it like to see a young player like that score their first goal and then

Get your tickets now at utahjazz.com.

It was a com- pretty complete game, to be honest.

I think, um, we won the special teams.

Uh, I thought the PK was great, had a ton of blocks.

Obviously, the power play was big again tonight, and then our five-on-five play was really strong.

I don't think we...

You know, that team can create a lot.

What do you see out of his performance, not only there, but tonight?

Anders, what was the key to pushing back to their pushback? Because they came back, tied it a couple times, and you had to hold them off at the end there.

You know what? To be honest, it felt on the bench that we were in control of the game tonight.

Um, wasn't a ton of panic.

I think when we played simple and, and put it in, our, our, our forecheck got us looks and got our puck, our possession back.

So I think, you know, when they had their push, I think we got away from that, uh, and that's gonna happen, but I think over time, uh, we got back to our game pretty good.

What have you kinda picked up on when it comes to their tendencies so far?

Well, I think away from their obvious skill and talent, I think they're just extremely competitive, and I love that.

I love sitting next to these guys on the bench and, uh, and feeling the same way that they do about going and hunting pucks and, and, and making plays and, and scoring goals.

How was it with those two kids?

These guys are great hockey players.

I mean, I thought we played a simple game, to be honest, and it led to a lot of chances.

I think we just worked off one another.

We had some good floor checks, talking on the bench, making sure we saw the same things, the whole deal.

But for the first time out there tonight, I thought we had a great game.

Does that ever happen when you're playing with guys of that skill level, maybe Barzell back on the island, where it's hard to remember to play your game because they're so gifted with the puck?

100%.

know you've only been here for a short time I'm just curious, you know since you've signed and you've been in Utah for a little bit What have your impressions been of both the organization and the community?

Well, I think, you know, first off, it's a big move coming from Long Island.

And got three little kids, and a couple of them are in school.

And getting adjusted these past few weeks, I think the kids have done a phenomenal job.

been welcomed in things have gone well at school and all that stuff and I think just for my wife and I that's a big relief and you know when you have that transition for your family and you know driving around everywhere I turn I'm looking at those mountains and it's just a beautiful place and easy to get around people have been phenomenal and you can tell even just when we went to go look at our house and stuff how many neighbors came out and said hi and welcomed us to the neighborhood so feel very welcomed in that regard From the organizational side, I don't think there's any stone that's not uncovered or overturned to try to help this team be the best they can be.

These facilities, what Ryan has done and come in and offered for the players is top notch.

And it's been an easy place to come to every day and prepare for the season.

But how difficult was that decision and obviously all of the options that you probably did have, and then eventually your decision to come to such a young, promising team on the rise?

I just wonder from your standpoint off the ice and trying to, you know, obviously fit in with the community and such, how much you must be looking forward to maybe laying down some roots there and getting ingrained in the community like you were with the Outers.

Absolutely.

I mean, the, the work that, you know, we were able to do and the people I was able to meet on Long Island, uh, I'm so grateful for, you know, there's just, there is such a, there's a special group of people that live on Long Island and they take a lot of pride and, and, and take care of one another.

Um, and I wanted to be a part of that and was fortunate enough to be a part of that through a jam cancer in the can.

And, um, I would love to be able to pick that up and bring it here and get to know this community in that way and be able to give back.

And as professional athletes and hockey players, we're living our dream.

And being able to use that platform to help some kids and some families, it's an honor to be able to do that and would love that to bring here to Utah.

And when you look back, what would have been the next piece that maybe could have got you to that next level?

I just wonder from your, your standpoint off the ice and, and trying to, you know, uh, obviously, uh, fit in, uh, with the community and such, how much you must be looking forward to maybe laying down some roots there and, and getting ingrained in the community like you were with the Islanders.

Absolutely.

I mean, the, the work that, you know, we were able to do and the people I was able to meet on Long Island, uh, I'm so grateful for.

You know, there's just, there is such a, there's a special group of people that live on Long Island, and they take a lot of pride and, and, and take care of one another.

Um, and I wanted to be a part of that and was fortunate enough to be a part of that through, uh, Jim Cancer in the Can, and, um, I would love to, to be able to pick that up and, and bring it here and get to know this community in that way and be able to give back.

And, um, as professional athletes and hockey players, we're, we're living our dream and, uh, being able to use that platform to, to help some kids and some families is, is, it's an honor to be able to do that and would love that, to bring here, that here to Utah.

And talk about those couple of years and when you look back, what, what, what would have been the next piece that maybe could have got you to that next level?

Uh, I don't know about the next piece.

Did that connect you two in any way when you first got to meet him?

him?Oh, I think so.

I think, you know, it's a, it's a huge part of his life.

I think he's, um, taken, you know, the challenges that he's faced with that, with losing his mom, and, you know, inspired him to, to make a difference in his own way, and I love to see what he's been doing.

Uh, I love seeing him at the hospitals.

I, I can relate to that and, and the impact that he's gonna make on, you know, uh, these kids with cancer and these families.

Um, he's come in as an 18-year-old and kind of had that foresight to understand that, um, there's more than just our game.

Tell me about what-- I know you've-- You know, again, you're in the business part of it, but because you know it well and you've been around this long enough, where are the Islanders right now as an organization, and what does the team look like going forward?

[laughs]

And it's...

Yeah, I wonder if the...

It- 'cause it's always been a r- a Republican.

Like, what if it, it was the more conservative candidate who, uh, l- lost the popular vote? Or, uh, the more liberal one who lost the popular vote but, but won the election.

I wonder if, like, that would be what it takes to actually switch it.

That's what I've been rooting for in every election that I've been alive.

Uh, does anyone have any, uh, commercials before we go?