jackson opens by reiterating his comments about ken holland from the press release, thanking him for what he's done in edmonton.

says he met with ken holland yesterday to "formalize a discussion that had been ongoing during the season. it's not a suprise to ken or to me that we mutally decided this was the best thing. he was ready to move on and we're going to go in a different direction." jackson: "but now we move on. we have a lot of work to do. our sort of season success this year put us in a spot where we don't have a lot of time to do things. the league's been operating while we've been playing. we have our own unrestricted free agents to sign, we got the draft, we've got free agency. i have to find a new general manager."

hyman: "we had an opportunity in the third to go win a game, they got the next one, the important next one, and then they won." hyman on the oilers issues breaking through offensively: "well, first game, their goalie play outstanding, obviously. i thought we had our looks. i think you have to look it as how many chances you get. sometimes you run into a hot goalie and that was the case in the first game, so they stole that one. this game, they played better than we did and we didn't have as many looks. we weren't playing with enough pace, i don't think. i think they were controlling the play for the majority of the game. having said that, again, we had an opportunity to win."

hyman: "i think game ones are a bit of a feeling out process. obviously, you want to come out strong, dictate the pace of the play. i think if we play like that, we're going to be fine." hyman on florida's game: "obviously, they got some good players. they're quick, they forecheck well, they hang onto the puck well. they're a good team. i thought we had our looks in the game, but we couldn't capitalize."

nugent-hopkins: "it's obviously exciting. this is what we play for right here. there's a lot of work left. we're going to face a good team, we know who we're playing already, which is kind of nice. we'll soak it in, we'll enjoy it tonight, but we got a week to get ready." nugent-hopkins: "they pushed all game after we got the two, but stu made the big saves when he needed to and i thought we did a pretty good job of eliminating their high quality scoring chances, but having said that, he made some pretty unbelievable saves to maintain the lead for us."

mcdavid: "i thought it was a big win tonight. everybody was solid, right from the goalie out, i thought everyone played real well." mcdavid on nugent-hopkins: "amazing. he gets asked to do so much on this team, whether it's on the kill, big draws on the kill, he's got a big responsibility on the power play, he's asked to do everything and just always delivers. tonight was big, he was awesome."

brown on the shorthanded goal: "it was a big goal. we feel good about each other on that kill, we trust each other. unreal play by doc there to win that battle and spring us. a lot being said about darnell. everyone and their dog coming at him this morning. two tough bounces to start the game and he settles in and plays probably his best game of the playoffs and leads us to a victory. that's character right there." brown on the start to the game, being able to bounce back: "that's exactly what we discussed in here. momentum. they're a great team, they're going to grab momentum at times in this series. it's about what we do to grab it back, and i think we had guys jumping over the boards to grab it back. we were able to hold out momentum and a great third period."

brown: "it's just about building. i think overall as a team, we got one more bounce in us. they're a good team, they came with a big push. we know we can be better, so we're just going to gear up for game three." brown on what changed in the second: "i think they might have changed us. they were getting fresh guys on and rolling, even though i thought we had some good looks in the second. i don't think we were getting dominated at any point. they're a good team, they're going to come with good pushes this series. i thought stu was great. i thought that game could've gone either way."

ekholm on the oilers pk: "throughout the playoffs we've had a good rhytmn on it. i feel like it's one of those things you build momentum, you build confidence on the unit. it's almost like we have some d-parings and some forward pairings now that have done it and done it with success and has confidence on it. that said, they had one off the post, so it's not always going to work out the way you want. i thought the kill did a heckuva job tonight, and obviously killed off five penalties i think it was." ekholm on mcdavid scoring the winner after his double-minor penalty: "we're not surprised in here. he's the best in the world. to see him get that one, he works so hard and he had a good look in the first overtime too to get it done, but by my experience being here, he doesn't get denied twice. so again was the case tonight. it didn't really matter who got it tonight, but obviously the important one was somebody got it, and it was connor and i'm not shocked it was him."

nugent-hopkins on game seven: "good 40, i thought even good 50, then something happens that goes the the other way. they're a good team that if you give them any life, they're gonna push. i thought we did a great job of just sticking with it, staying composed, not imploding and having each others backs." nugent-hopkins on the oilers' penalty kill: "it's something we take so much pride in all season and this is why, because we know it can make the difference in games like this. power play's got to show up and score some timely goals, and pk's gotta stop them. we got so many great killer and guys that can do the job on the power play. it can be the difference maker and we're proud that it was tonight."

holloway on his goal: "i think they were kind of cheating, thinking leo was going to pick up the puck and he did. i was able to gain some speed, he made a nice play to me then i kind of caught their d flat footed there, so i was happy for that one to go in. it felt pretty good." holloway on the oilers' start to the game: "i thought the boys were ready from the start. we obviously knew what was at stake tonight, so probably a little bit of nerves, but once we got settled in, we played our game, kind of rolled all four lines and got going there and never looked back."

ekholm on the end of the game: "it was awesome, a great ending to it. would i have liked us to just ride that out, win 2-1? yeah, but it was kind of like when they scored, we played too good of a game to not win this one. it was something i was at least feeling out there, where 'we're going to get 'em, whether it's now or in the overtime.' it was hard to tell, but it was really nice to see that one go in." ekholm on bouchard, his shot being clutch: "i think i said most of it in vancouver a couple of nights ago. no moment is too big for him. he's playing his game, he doesn't care what time of the game it is, what time of year it is. he's playing his way, and that's what i love about him, and that's what's going to make him have an unbelievable career in this league."

ekholm on the oilers' pushback: "i thought this game was a game where we took over the game halfway through it and we just kept coming, kept pushing. the fact we didn't score a goal late in the third was crazy to me. i thought we had chance on chance on chance. good on us sticking with it in ot, finally get one. in ot, it's a bounce, it's whatever. you saw it with this one too. it's a bounce and it goes in, right? i thought we earned it throughout the night, but as you're saying, they had a helluva comeback in the first game. i thought tonight, we had that comeback mindset. they were up three times in this game and we just kept coming back. good on us, it's an even series. that's what we came here for and we'll take it back to edmonton." ekholm on mcdavid and draisaitl: "the credit should absolutely go to them, they hang onto the puck tremendously, they create chances, they have — i don't even know why i'm standing here convincing you guys they're the best in the world, i just think they are. they keep on showing it every night."

ekholm: "i thought we played up until 10 minutes left in the third or something like that. i thought we were controlling the action, i thought we had a big kill. sometimes it happens. that's the emotional ups and downs of the playoffs. they get three quick ones and that's the game right there. i think we can be encouraged by the way we played the first 50 minutes. a little bit of a disappointing ending. to a certain point, i didn't think we maybe earned it in the third. we can play a better second half of the third period. we learn from it, move on. a new game in two days. we still don't have home ice, but we got a new opportunity in two days to make sure that we even the series." ekholm on vancouver getting momentum in the game: "i think more the timing of the goals. the crowd, we know it's going to be a great atmosphere in here, we know it's going to be that at home as well. it's just tough when they get the go-ahead goal with four minutes left. that's kind of where you have to throw a hail mary at them. i thought we tried, we battled toward the end, but it wasn't enough for us."

nurse on leon draisaitl's defensive game in this series: "he made numerous defensive plays, whether it was backchecking, just being in the right spots in the d-zone picking off passes or being first to loose pucks. he's on the right side of the puck all game long. he was a horse for us, really led by example how to play a two-way game. he was huge for us in this series." nurse on if this was as complete of a first-round series as they've had: "there's a level of comfort just having been through this a few times, and that also comes with the calm in our game, being able to weather different storms. it was a good sign of what's to come, but there's still so much hockey we're hoping to play through the rest of the spring here. for us, it's important to keep picking it up."

perry: "we didn't have too many shots, but defensively, we kept a lot to the outside. they had some shots, but i thought our d did a heckuva job in front of stu clearing pucks and eliminating second opportunites." perry on if this was a banner defensive night for the oilers: "i think so. it's playoffs. these are the types of games you have to win in the playoffs. it's not going to be 6-5, 7-4 every night. you're going to have to dig deep and play defence and grind one out. we found a way tonight."

draisaitl on the oilers defending better: "i thought we defended really well, all four lines. in the playoffs, you got to understand they're a good team, right? they're going to have their push. they got lots of good players too. they're going to make plays every once in a while, but i thought after we gave up one, we got back to our game. a solid effort." draisaitl on getting a goal back right after the kings scored: "big. those are the momentum shifts everyone talks about all the time, right? those are big, especially in away buildings in the playoffs. it was a big goal by kaner."

holloway: "it's a long series. we knew we were going to have to battle through adversity, so we'll focus on the next one." holloway on his two-goal game, his comfort level: "i'm feeling confident. i think playing with janny and sammy there, they're two great players. they make some nice plays and make it easy for me. credit to them, credit to our team for being so resilient, but ultimately, we didn't get the win, so it doesn't really matter."

henrique: "i liked the way we came out. played with some desperation early on, try to impose our will on them in that first period. i thought we did a good job there and that's just something we need to be able to carry over for 60 minutes." henrique on his playoff experience, being versatile in the lineup: "yeah, i mean it's been a while, but it's certainly nice to be back in the playoffs. since coming here, a lot of people have talked about the atmosphere, and i think until you experience that playoff atmosphere here, it's hard to explain and understand what it's really like. that was exciting to be a part of, and the fans were great tonight. certainly a lot of fun playing out there."

perry: "we had quite a few regulars out tonight, but i thought the first half of the first period we were just standing around watching them, and they were skating around us making plays. but after that, it's all about work and we battled hard. it's just one of those games where the way you start just wasn't there." perry on the mindset entering this game: "it's not easy replacing six guys that play over 18, 20 minutes a night. i thought we battled hard. they're a great team, they had their full lineup, they're ready for their playoff mode and they came out hard."

mcdavid on joining orr, gretzky and lemieux: "it means a lot. those three, obviously, are three of the greatest players to ever play, and to share a little something with them means a lot to me. i'm just thankful for my teammates, the staff here in edmonton, the coaches and everything. i feel very grateful for our staff here in edmonton, and our players here. it's been a different type of year, but everyone has stuck with it and we've put ourselves in a good position heading into when it matters most." mcdavid on the assist coming on a hyman goal: "zach and i have played lots together, and he's had such an incredible year. we both benefited from playing with each other, and i guess it was fitting."

holland: "what i like about the deal is we are adding two players. both are versatile, one shoots right and can pla right-wing, center, both can penalty kill, adam shoots left and can play left-wing or center. maybe he trys right wing. i think we got some versatility, some depth. i felt we got deeper. the importance of penalty kill come playoff time, the importance of centers come playoff time, the importance of depth come playoff time were all factors in the decision to make the deal." holland on where henrique/carrick fit in the lineup: "i've talked to kris on an ongoing basis the last couple of days leading up to this, so he's aware we were trying to put this deal together. i haven't exactly talked to him about where he thinks things are going to fit. they're both flying in tonight, they'll both be at practice tomorrow morning, and i'll talk to kris here tonight. i'm looking forward, just like you are, to seeing what he's looking for line combinations."