Michigan State 2, Ohio State 1
2/14/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Feb. 14, 2009
Ohio State vs. Michigan State
Sat., February 14, 2009
Post-Game Quotes
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
On changing up the lines and playing Jeff Petry at center...
Well, obviously we cannot play 10 forwards. So, my plan was that every time they sent their fourth line, I was going to send Petry out with (Kurt) Kivisto on left wing and create a fourth line with Dan Sturges. I think I played them about eight times. It bought us some time because we really got tired in the second period. We would have run out of gas if we didn't come up with something. Jeff did really well there.
On the team not tiring...
We didn't run out of gas, we had more energy in the third period, or, we recovered in the third. We had that stretch where they hit the post three times so we had a little bit of good fortune, too.
On winning the shootout last night and winning tonight...
We haven't had very many fun Sundays recently. The kids really deserve a lot of credit. We had a really depleted lineup to night. It's reinforcing that Jeff (Lerg) has been sending the right message and you try to coach in a positive way, despite everything that has gone on. All of a sudden you get two wins against a nationally ranked team that is in the top four in the league and you get excited about another week. Hopefully, we'll get (Adam) Henderson back. We haven't been able to sing the fight song in the lockerroom too much - we only sing it after two wins.
On the scoring tonight...
Joey Shean played a lot tonight and Brett Perlini had another point tonight and that is how it is going to have to be if we are going to win games - guys that maybe couldn't play earlier in the year have to step up and try and find a way. Jeff (Lerg) obviously continues to play very, very well.
Ohio State Head Coach John Markell
Overall impressions...
I thought (Jeff) Lerg was great for them again. They played harder all weekend and we got outcompeted. This is a real humbling weekend for us and a great learning experience.
On what Ohio State did well...
I liked us at times. I thought we hung in there, killing that five-on-three. As for the last penalty, I thought they might let us play at that point. Give Michigan State credit though. They're going to be a tough team to play in the playoffs.
On dressing only five defensemen...
I didn't think our forwards competed well last night and I wanted to put a little pressure on them. You still have to put the puck in the net. It's tough, grind-it-out hockey out there.
On Jeff Lerg...
He's so athletic and he's into every game. He swallows up a lot of pucks and his guys play well in front of him. They do a good job of taking away sticks in front. He's very competitive and obviously he's their captain. How well he does at the next level will be up to the experts.
Michigan State Goalie Jeff Lerg
On singing the fight song post-game after winning both games this weekend...
That kind of caught me off guard. Usually we were here singing it every other weekend or so, but now I think it's been since Halloween weekend, so it was a good feeling for the guys. We need some positive feelings to come back to this rink again as we fight toward the playoffs.
On winning both games this weekend...
We needed it. We've been kicked down all year and we've had negative after negative pile up on us. For two big wins in a row and to do it the way we did it - a nice, gritty win tonight - it's huge for this team. I said it last weekend, we're going down without a fight. These guys are still fighting and we know that this is our team right now and that we're not getting anyone back. These guys have an opportunity and they're taking advantage of it.
On the team's `never say die' attitude...
We've had a lot of times where we've been down but not out and now we're starting to fight back. You need a positive here and there to just keep you in the right mental state and that's what happened this weekend and actually the last couple weekends. We've been playing some pretty solid hockey and that's what we need to do. Hopefully we peak at the right time, because it doesn't really matter until the playoffs start.
Michigan State Defenseman Jeff Petry
On the game-winning goal...
The five-on-three was kind of frustrating, but I think we set it up toward the end when (Matt) Schepke passed it out to (Matt) Crandell and (Matt) Crandell made a pass and kind of walked it wide. I took an off-angle shot and Daultan (Leveille) was in front screening the goalie.
On the weekend sweep...
Every game is big for us now. We'll take all the points we can get. To get the sweep was really big for us. Mentally, too - working with three lines going into the playoffs in the next couple weeks, we know we have to come together and this is a big step for us.
On seeing playing time at center...
I did not see that coming at all. He had mentioned it to me weeks back - that if we got in trouble, he might try it, but I never thought it would come. I saw he sent out one forward and we still had two defensemen on the ice and then he sent two more out and told me I was playing center. I think my first shift was about 17 seconds. I wasn't really comfortable, but I'll do whatever I can. Playing defense and trying to rush a puck, you have to have that mindset that if something doesn't work out or if it's not the right play you have to get back.
