Pre-game 6 with Timonen & Leino

"One game and we have to win it", Kimmo Timonen sums up. "We don't think further than that and it would be useless to think further because it's not helping anyone. We focus on this home game and try to win it. We'll think what to do next after the game. Everyone has to give it their all if we want to do well and win."

"We've been in this situation many times before during the last two months. There's no panic. We have a big game coming up and we try to win it."

"We had a pretty heated conversation about the previous game. We tried to find a reason for what was wrong, but we couldn't really find one. Everyone felt good before the game, but it didn't translate onto the ice. We did get over the loss pretty quickly. We went through the game video, so we'll know what to do better. We lost that game and we can't help it. We learn from it and try to win the next one."

"Each game starts with your individual preparation. Everyone has to come to the rink with the mentality that 'we'll win now'. You have to go to the net and win the puck battles. You can't effect anyone's preparation at this level since it's everyone's personal matter. The only thing us more experienced players can effect on is to calm down the team before the game."

Antti Niemi has a weakness and the Flyers know what it is.

"Antti gives a lot of rebounds and that's what we have to use to our advantage. Lots of shots and get into the rebounds. We can get those ugly goals from the rebounds. Antti has played well, but there are a lot of rebounds and that will be our weapon."

The playoff run has been an amazing experience, even for a veteran like Timonen.

"It's been a fast pace the last two months when we've had a game every other day. It's been quite an experience for a veteran player. It's one of the best experiences in my career. The playoff atmosphere is the best time for a hockey player. This is why we've worked in the summer. You will remember the little things that stand out in the playoffs."

"Sometimes I've wondered if I still have a family anymore when I haven't seen them much. It's been a long spring, but the dream is so close. I still have the energy to play this week with just left foot if I had to."

"We need to learn from the mistakes we made in the previous game", Ville Leino says. "We just have to play the same way we've played at home before. It's not the first time we have our backs against the wall."

"I don't really know what happened in the fifth game, but somehow we were too nervous. The puck bounced in my stick too and everyone avoided the puck a little."

Things need to change for Game 6.

"We need to get that work ethic back, because it's going to be the toughest game so far. The Hawks know that this is their chance and we have to win. There's going to be a lot of speed and emotions in the game."

Like Timonen, Leino says that Niemi leaves a lot of rebounds.

"You get pretty good rebounds even from low quality shots. We need to go to the net and get the shots high. We've gotten pucks past him pretty well. Last game we had four goals and that should be enough to win."

Leino welcomed the little extra rest during the games.

"It's been tough", he admits. "We got a break in a good spot when we've played every other day for so long."

Leino says the Stanley Cup finals are incomparable to the SM-Liiga finals.

"This is a totally different game. The difference in physicality is huge."

"The Stanley Cup must be the hardest trophy to win."