Post Game Quotes vs. Bowling Green
2/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 24, 2007
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening statement...
I thought we had some kids play hard, but some that didn't do too much. Some of our good players weren't very good players, and (BGSU goalie) Jimmy Spratt did what he had to do. We were around the net so much, but Bowling Green was playing better tonight defensively and took away the front of the net. We had people struggle at the blue line too, so I don't know what to tell you. I've known all along that we have some good points and we have some deficiencies, and right now the deficiencies are showing.
On the team's sense of urgency...
Our best sense of urgency came during the five-minute penalty. That's what we've seemed to have lost these last couple weeks. I thought Jim McKenzie was outstanding, he certainly tried to make things happen. I thought Sucharski tried, but some of the people they were playing with certainly did not play with that sense of urgency at all.
On the team's overall effort...
Obviously now we have to win the CCHA tournament in order to make the NCAA tournament, but talk is useless right now. I thought there was a very poor energy level out of a lot of people, not across the board though. Jeff Lerg always comes and plays, and Gentile came and played, and Ratchuk always tries to make things happen. But every team, no matter what the sport, has four or five guys that have to be good players every night, and if they're not, then it's really tough.
On a week off before the CCHA playoffs...
You can't play for them, that's for sure, and you certainly can't take a whole week off. I guess the big thing will be how they react to it. They're the ones that are going to have to decide how much it means to them, how hard they'll play, and can they bring along the few guys that didn't get it done for whatever reason. We're not a great team, we've known that all along. This team has actually accomplished a decent amount, and then stumbled these last couple weeks. Now can they get it back? I don't know.
Bowling Green Head Coach Scott Paluch
On getting a win in a tight game...
Obviously it's a big win for us. The big thing is that this is the situation we've been in nine straight games. It's been either a tied game or a one-goal game going into the third period and we haven't been able to make the key plays when we've needed to.
On getting a road victory going into the playoffs...
We knew after last night that we're not playing at home anymore. If we want to keep playing hockey we're going to have to win on the road. That was a playoff type of game for us.
On the differences in his team's play tonight compared to Friday night...
We were a little bit more consistent in our fore-check and we more solid in our zone and with our transition defense. Ultimately, it came down to the same thing as last night - a tie game going into the third period, and tonight we made a play.
Michigan State Senior Forward Chris Lawrence
On chances of scoring...
We are not going to win a hockey game by scoring one goal. Their goaltender played well, so you have to give them all the credit. We have to regroup here - it has been a tough slide. We played with desperation; we acted like the game meant nothing. We are probably going to take a big hit for this.
On pressing to hard with the scoring...
We got chances but we need to get back to the basics and get pucks to the net. We do not turn away from any shots, they are just not going in right now. This was a disappointing effort.
Sensation of the warm-up...
We felt good about last night, it was a tough win and we played well. We knew we had to get on a roll going into the playoffs. It was a little sluggish the first five minutes, but we played all right in the first period. We got the first goal and could not get a second goal with the chances that we had. In the third we did not play with any desperation.
Michigan State Senior Defenseman Ethan Graham
On the team's effort...
I think we started out pretty well, but we had a lull there in the middle of the game and they got that goal. Then, it was too little too late, which is a lesson we have been having a lot lately. We get this week off to get a little rest, then we have to get back to it.
On having a sense of urgency...
We just have to keep working, sometimes we have the tendency to think the puck is just going to go in. We need that extra little push - whether it is on a pass, a shot, or digging the puck out of the corner - and we give it sometimes but maybe not others. I don't think anyone has a direct answer, it is just a lot of little things that need to get done.
On the team's effort level being questioned...
You never want your team to be questioned as far as effort goes, because effort is number one. It is a little concerning to have people question your effort, but it is definitely there. I know it is in our team, we just have to pull it out.
On what is going wrong when they are working hard...
It is frustrating when we are working hard, and hitting posts, and rebounds are popping over our sticks. It has a little bit to do with luck, but you create your own luck through hard work. Right now that is not happening.
