Tuomo Ruutu Post-Game Interview 2010-12-15 (Hurricanes vs. Panthers)

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• published: 16 Dec 2010
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Interview with Tuomo Ruutu after the December 15th, 2010 game against the Florida Panthers. Transcript: JF: Gutsy, hard-fought, character-building, whatever you want to call it, what a game tonight for the Hurricanes, winning it 4 to 3 in Florida as we kick off Hurricanes Live. John Forslund, Tripp Tracy, upstairs. Tuomo Ruutu, kind enough to join us downstairs. JF: Ruuty, if you can sum up seeing how the game started - a comeback win like this - what do you think this game means? TR: I mean it's, it's huge, we haven't won in this building for a while and obviously it was a rough start, but, you know, I think it was a really good step for us in forward because I don't think we played perfect game, but we're able to find how to win and that's what you need to do when you play the 2 games, you can't be perfect every game. TT: Tuomo, I remember back to game 1, how touched you were about the team bonding in your native Helsinki, you know, with the Sauna Island experience. What was it? Because unless you have good team chemistry, you don't come back from 3-nothing, and the adversity, that very controversial call. Give us a sense of what the bench was like and what was there that allowed you to write this story tonight. TR: Uh, I think why we have such a good team is, everybody individually, they knew, they know, know everybody did their best and nobody really had to say anything, you just know inside your head you've gotta be better, and once everybody does it, I think you're gonna be successful after that. JF: Tuomo, take us through the 2 goals, the tying goal, and, of course, the winning goal. Going into those hard areas of the ice to score, you know all about that. TR: Heh, yeah, that's my, that's my spot, obviously. I thought our 5-on-3 was better than, than it's been before, because we were moving the puck, we were moving, so... you know it made their 3 guys really work hard, and we were able to score from there and the second one was just an early Christmas present from Vokoun. TT: I wanna ask you about 2 individuals, I mean this was a total team effort, but, you know, Justin Peters knockin' on the door to get that first victory, what was it like, you know, to go out there and tap him, you know, 'cause he's such a team guy, to be the winning goaltender tonight. TR: I mean it feels good, he's such a great guy, and work so hard, and never complains about everything, you know; doesn't play really often, but when he plays he's, he's fun to watch because he really battles, and he's the same way in the practice, and you know I like watching players that, you know, battle hard and are emotional like he is. TT: I want to also ask you about the guy that set up your tying goal in that 5-on-3, we always see his, uh, Jeff Skinner looks like he's 10 years old and smiling all the time but, underneath that we're already seeing a leader, aren't we? And a fierce competitor, he had a big game tonight. TR: Oh yes, and you know he can make scoring chances out of nothing like that first goal was huge in that second period, you know, I mean, I think I tried to yell at him "get the puck deep" but you know, he had some extra moves out there and, you know, it's good that someone tries those moves and, you know, like I said, he's just able to make scoring chances out of nothing, which is great. JF: Ruuty, thanks so much, congratulations. I gotta tell you, you look like a gladiator, you know, from a fashion standpoint, without the sweater on, nice look! Good luck tomorrow night in Atlanta. TR: W- Johhny, what do you mean I *look* like a gladiator. JF: You *ARE* a gladiator! TT: Oh you ARE you're Russell Crowe! Russell Crowe could not wear your shoes. JF: You're a warrior! We know that! TR: *Laughs* Thanks guys. JF: Great job, Ruuty, good luck tomorrow.