How have you evolved your game to keep up with the times?

Yeah, you're 100% right, Huds.

You know, Jimmy, Jimmy was a legend.

I definitely miss that guy.

I ran into him a few times in Montreal.

But, um, you're right.

I think if you can't adapt every year, you're just gonna fall behind.

... as a veteran guy of the idea that more teams could kinda be adopting that three goalie system, and I- is there a way to make it work?

How'd, and how'd you get through it?

Um, I s- God, I've had lots.

Um, but definitely I think with the Blues, no question, was my darkest times.

Like in Montreal, I think totally different situation.

I went there my first year, played really well.

Went to a Cup final, like forgot.

You know, like a crazy Cup final.

So how much i- of it is the team being great in front of you versus the, um, the overall talent that you possess?

Like, how would you approach an elimination game?

Yeah, I mean, obviously, like, like I mentioned earlier with Freddie, every goalie's different.

Everyone thinks the game differently, and player, defense and forward, whatever it is, everyone has a different way of going about their business.

And obviously, as we can tell through his season in the playoffs, you know, Dollish has some passion and some emotion in him, which I love.

Uh, but sometimes that can hinder you, sometimes it gets you going.

It, it just depends on the situation.

But for me, you know, obviously I don't have a ton [laughs] of game seven experience, but I have some, a decent amount of playoff experience, and, uh, the first time it really came up and bit me was when I tried to do too much in an elimination game.

Um, how do you prepare as a backup goaltender and, and looking at this situation? Like, you, you obviously have to be ready in case you get called upon, but do you, do you do things differently, like a- as a backup, or are you just, "Hey, everything's the same here and, and I'm gonna be ready if my number does get called"?

How much attention does the standings get every day in, in the locker room?

room?Yeah, I mean, it definitely does.

Definitely, you know what it's like on a normal year.

But I think this year it just-- I mean, even if you look, probably go back, I don't know, five, six, seven years, the schedules have gotten-- the, the standings have gotten way more, way more condensed to way-- so much more parity in the league, and especially this year.

Um, I mean, you stare at it every day, you're gonna kill yourself over it, but at the same time, you have to have an understanding of where your group's at and sorta your mindset behind, you know, what we're doing, what we're approaching, how our team's trying to, to get to that next level.

But, you know, one win one night, one loss the other night, you're in the playoffs, you're out of the playoffs.

Um, that's, that's how close it is, especially in the East.

How do you feel at this time of year? Do you get excited to watch the World Juniors, or is it a little bittersweet, sort of like it is for me?

Uh, how have you, and you've been playing in the NHL for a long time, how are you experiencing this year with the schedule the way it is, just how condensed it is so far this year?

Yeah, this is definitely the, I think, the toughest season that I've experienced.

You know, uh, I don't necessarily mean for myself, and I'm just speaking from talking to guys on our team throughout the league.

Um, you know, uh, buddies that have played that are retired now, they're like, "Holy cow, I can't believe," you know, "that this is going on." But that's the reality of the game that we're in right now, and every team's going through it.

Um, it's a chance for, you know, those special players to play in the Olympics.

And, um, you know what? That's, I think it's super important for our game.

But, uh, I, I think it's gonna be a, a wild experience when we all come back next year and, and feel like this season might be a little bit of a, not a breeze, but just a, you have a chance to breathe and reset.

How do you feel at this time of year? Do you get excited to watch the World Juniors, or is it a little bittersweet, sort of like it is for me?