Head coach Dan Bylsma acknowledged the gritty nature of the contest, stating, "You've got to anticipate this being a long, drawn-out battle. It played out the way we thought it would. There wasn't a lot of offense." Bylsma also praised his team's defensive commitment, a trait not typically associated with the high-scoring Firebirds. "Maybe we're not known for being a good defensive team. We're known for skill and scoring and speed. But we've taken a lot of pride in our defensive game this year."
