Western Michigan 2, Michigan State 0
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 17, 2007
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening statement...
We've had two bad stretches this year, and they both came when we had to play five games in nine days, and we just run out of gas. It looks like we're out of gas right now. There wasn't that energy, there wasn't that emotion. Giving up that goal late (in the first period) is a killer, but we just didn't have good energy.
On playing three games this week...
We haven't handled mid-week games well when they're coupled with games around them. Western did a good job - they played two different games, different styles both nights. Teams that lie back against us and make our defense handle the puck a lot, we don't do well against. But now we have to rest up and relax a little bit and get a win next weekend and get that first-round bye, because I think that'd be really healthy for us.
On committing eight penalties...
Frustration is a negative characteristic, and when players are struggling and the team isn't playing as well as it can play, then frustration takes over. You don't want to do that, but we'll be fine. We've won a lot of close games - we've squeaked games out and won overtime games, and sometimes the percentages catch up to you.
On the team struggling late in the season...
It's extremely frustrating, but we're playing teams that aren't playing for anything, so they're relaxed and playing. It's just the timing, but we'll come back on Monday, go back to work and find a way to make it happen. A lot of good things can happen (with a first-round bye). Last year we got by a really tough series, got to Detroit and won the tournament.
Western Michigan Head Coach Jim Culhane
On getting their first win at Munn Arena since 1993...
It's so difficult to win on the road in this league...(Michigan State's) only lost one game at home all year and it's a difficult place to play. It was a real good effort by our guys.
On the keys to their victory...
It was a lot of things. It was good execution of systems, diligence in the sense of urgency and desperation and playing real hard, and some timely execution. We were able to kill off some four-on-threes and some five-on-threes so the penalty kill was superb.
On scoring a last-second goal in the first period...
It's good momentum. Obviously on the road to get a goal like that as the time expires in a period, it made it a good first period.
On stopping Michigan State's offense...
They're one of the top-15 teams in the country offensively. There are some pretty dynamic players there, a twenty-goal scorer like Bryan Lerg, and guys like Crowder and Abdelkader. They've got some pretty good offensive weapons. Tonight they just weren't able to capitalize on their chances. They had chances they just didn't find the back of the net.
Michigan State Sophomore Goaltender Jeff Lerg
On the nature of tonight's game compared to last night...
There were a few more shots than last night, they did a good job going to the net. Those were two goals you probably will never see again. On the first one, it was a good job by LoVecchio to hit it out of mid air, and on the second one, we just shot ourselves in the foot. We just broke down - all six guys on the ice - and that was the game right there.
On the first goal...
It started in the neutral zone, they got it and brought it into the zone with speed, and somehow it got lost in the slot - someone shot it and I didn't see it. I thought the period was pretty much over then, and I thought we were going to eat it. It turned off a guy's skate right onto their guy's stick, and he had a wide-open net.
On what has gone wrong and how to correct it...
Ever since we left Nebraska, I don't think we have had the same jump, the same energy and the same mindset. I don't know how at this time of year, and I don't know what can be said, but it cannot be happening. We just have to forget about it. If you look at it, we lost three games in a week earlier this year and bounced back pretty good, so it isn't like it can't be done. Hopefully we are getting all our losses out of the way right now. These are tough times, and we will be judged on how we respond to it, so we need to have a good week of practice, to Bowling Green and get a good road win - we can't only play good here, so that is our mindset.
Michigan State Senior Forward Chris Lawrence
On the team's approach to the game...
You have to pick your spots for yelling and screaming for motivation. I have done that some this year, but if you do it too much, it falls on deaf ears. We have said all the right things, and had a great mind frame and attitude going into the game. We knew what we needed to do and we knew what we were going to face, so it isn't lack of execution and it isn't lack of effort.
On their performance over the weekend...
First of all, you have to give a lot of credit to Western. They executed their game plan to a "T" They were a better, smarter team than us. Their penalties were ones we drew, while our penalties were mental breakdowns. I think this is the first time all year we are beginning to feel frustrated as a group. My job as a leader is to put the brakes on this thing right now.
On if fatigue was a factor in the team's play...
Guys are in good enough shape to where fatigue should not be a factor. Our top guys play a lot, but they are in good condition and have been doing that all year long. You look at Bryan Lerg or Mueller or Abdelkader, and they are going to be in better shape than me, but they have to because they play twice as many minutes so they are used to that. I don't think it is anything new. If we were facing injuries then maybe, but not how it is right now.
