2006-07 IHM vs. Notre Dame -- Notes & Quotes
12/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
N O T E S
Jason Dest was not in the Michigan lineup for just the second time in his career, ending his 124 consecutive games-played streak. After missing the first game of his freshman season, Dest played in every contest for the Maize and Blue until an injury ended the senior blueliner's team-leading streak.
With his second-period marker, Andrew Cogliano pushed his goal streak to three games. Since Dec. 1 against Western Michigan, the sophomore has compiled a 6-0-6 line.
With 13 markers in 18 games, Cogliano set a new personal best for goals in a season. The tally was also the 25th of his career.
Matt Hunwick's assist gives the defenseman a helper in three straight games, amassing a 0-3-3 output.
Hunwick's assist marked his 60th career helper. It also pushed the senior into a tie with Chris Tamer (1990-93) for 18th place on U-M's all-time defenseman point list (78).
Chad Kolarik has tallied a point in three consecutive games, piling up a goal and four assists.
Kevin Porter upped his career-best point streak to 14 games with his assist in the third period. The junior now has 12 goals and 13 assists in the span.
Dating back to U-M's game against Minnesota on Nov. 25, the Wolverines have allowed 26 goals in the last four games.
Michigan's eight game winning streak against the Irish was snapped with tonight's loss. The last loss to ND was on Feb. 28, 2004 in South Bend (5-2). Additionally, U-M's five-game home winning streak against ND came to an end. The last home loss to the Irish was Nov. 23, 2002 (4-3).
Tonight's loss marks the first time that Michigan has allowed Notre Dame to score seven or more goals since Oct. 22, 1982, when they were defeated 9-5. That game was also the last time U-M lost to ND by a four-goal margin.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On the team's play tonight "I saw a team that played hard and was playing well in the first period. We were compromised by the goals. I have to give Notre Dame credit. They took advantage of their chances. From our perspective, we gave up goals too easily. The shots were 9-3 and the score was 2-0 in the first period. We can't give up goals that easily. We didnt capitalize on our good chances and thats how the game went. Then when we did score, they scored within two minutes and took that momentum away three times in the game. Give them marks -- or was it our miscues that we gave them the puck or turned it over The goals were soft goals. It was a nightmare of a game. We played against a team that is very stingy defensively and here we are allowing goals to go through easily. Then we're trying to battle back against the best defensive team in the country."
On the breakdowns that allowed Notre Dame to score throughout the night "They were just little things. One of the goals was off a bad pass. It went off one of our players' skates to their guy, he shot, and it gave them a scoring chance. It was a loose puck, and then it went in. We gave up a point-shot goal. We gave up two rebound goals on point shots that we should have blocked or denied. The shots went through and we did not get a stick in front. (The puck) was going in too easy. We have to work for goals, so to give up goals like that, it really comes down to the defensive play. We have to play better defensively -- we can't give up goals like that."
On Billy Sauer's mindset "I cannot tell you what his psyche is right now. It was a tough game for him. He only had four shots in the first period and two were goals. That is frustrating for a goalie. Then in the second period, it got worse. I cannot tell you what his psyche is, but obviously the puck is going in too easily."
Michigan Senior Defenseman Matt Hunwick
On how the team feels right now "Early goals are really killing us. It is tough to play from behind all the time. That first goal, I think it might have been a screened shot, but either way, when you give up easy goals to start the game, it is tough battling back. They only had three or four shots (in the first period) and we gave up two goals. We battled back, but once they got that fourth or fifth goal I guess it was pretty much over from there. But they were not great goals. They were bouncing off our skate or we blocked the shot and then it went right to them. So maybe it just wasn't our night but that cannot happen if you are going to win."
On the game this Sunday at Notre Dame "It's huge going into the break and it's huge in the standings. These are the only two times we get to play (Notre Dame) and it's going to be huge. We are just going to try and even it out and hopefully not fall behind in the standings. It could have been an eight point swing if we had won both games. We could be up four or five points. But now if we lose two, we are down. So, it is a huge game. It would be good for our confidence going into the break to get a win down in South Bend on the road. We are going to be missing some players, but those are the games you have to win -- the tough road games that will show what this team is made of."
On allowing 26 goals in the last four games "It is pretty embarrassing. We set a number that we want for goals against in 10-game segments and I think that it might have been 24 or 26. So to give up that many goals in four games, well, you are not going to win too many of those."
Michigan Senior Forward T.J. Hensick
On the momentum throughout the game "Well, it has been an ongoing problem for the last four or five games. We score and get the momentum back and then they go and score the next shift. I think that, as a team, we know that no matter who scores, the next shift after a goal is huge. And for some reason maybe we do not see it that way or maybe we just get too relaxed but it has to change because it is huge for this team and it is deflating for this team. We get the momentum and then we lose it 10 seconds later. I thought we had it once (Andrew) Cogliano scored, but then (2:06) later, they took it right back. College hockey is a game of momentum, and we seem to be losing it pretty quickly when we get it."
On the offense during the first period "I think that for the most part, except for maybe the first five minutes, we played better than Notre Dame in the first period. Shots were in our advantage. I think that we controlled the puck down in their own zone and we did well creating things off the cycle. The puck is not going in the net tonight, but at least we can look at some areas and say that we saw some successful things down low in their own zone."
