5 questions for...
Ken Daneyko
Devils’ MSG Network analyst and three-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Daneyko talks New Jersey’s first-round series against the Lightning and the rest of the Stanley Cup playoffs with The Post’s Justin Terranova. Games 3 and 4 of the Devils’ series will be broadcast on MSG and MSG-Plus.
Q: Does Taylor Hall deserve the Hart Trophy?
A: I’ve got about four guys in there. But from watching him every day and being a little biased, just look at his points to the second guy [on the Devils], Nico Hischier. He finished 41 points ahead of him. That shows what he meant to the Devils. He’s been so focused since Day 1 about being a catalyst. It’s all about winning for him. This is his first experience in the playoffs, and he’s just handled it like a true pro.
Q: What has made the Lightning so dominant this year?
A: Their depth, their speed, their skill. Just go on down the line: [Steven] Stamkos, [Nikita] Kucherov and the best defenseman in the league for my money in Victor Hedman. It’s just believing in yourself and not getting overwhelmed.
Q: Can the “nobody believes in us” motivation be a real thing for a team?
A: Hockey players are like little kids, they really are. And we try to rally around something. There is something to it. We watched “Any Given Sunday” when we were down 3-1 to the Flyers one year, and it got us fired up. We try anything, whether it works or not I don’t know. It’s about the team coming together and putting that chip on your shoulder and proving people wrong couldn’t hurt.
Q: Would you be surprised if the Penguins won again?
A: The difference was, and it was the same with my teams — we went to three Stanley Cups in four years: won two, lost one — it’s just the norm and the bar gets raised that high where you expect to win every year. It doesn’t hurt having two of the best players in the world [Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin], who just know how to win. Pittsburgh has this ability — and I saw it a lot last year — of getting outplayed in the game and still finding a way to win somehow. And the other team just shakes their head, frustrating them more. Q: Who is your favorite in the Western Conference? A: I usually like to pick a dark horse, but Nashville has been there and they’re pretty deep. I would say you have to favor them, there’s no question in mind. But what’s great about these playoffs is there are so many good teams. The Sharks have been so strong since they picked up Evander Kane. The Jets look really powerful.