Notes & Quotes: #14 Michigan 6, Michigan State 1
12/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Intrastate Rivalry:
Michigan advanced to 67-42-4 at home against the Spartans and 129-118-18 overall.
Chris Summers improved to a 4-4-8 line against MSU, a team best among active U-M players.
Tonight's 6-1 win was the largest goal differential between the two teams since Michigan's 8-1 win on Feb. 17, 1996.
Offense:
Michigan tallied three goals in both the second and third periods to tie the season high for goals in a period for the sixth and seventh times, respectively.
All eight of David Wohlberg's goals this season have come in the past 10 games.
Summers' goal in the second period snapped a 91:02 scoring drought for U-M dating back to Nov. 28.
Multi-Point Games:
Five Wolverines had multi-point games in the victory -- Louie Caporusso (0-3-3), Aaron Palushaj (1-2-3), David Wohlberg (2-0-2), Brandon Burlon (1-1-2), and Chris Summers (1-1-2).
Louie Caporusso set a career high with three assists.
Aaron Palushaj earned his sixth multi-point game of the season with a 1-2-3 line. He has notched three or more points on three occasions.
Brandon Burlon scored his first career goal and tied a career high with two points (1-1-2).
Wohlberg tallied two goals for the second time in three games, tying career highs for goals and points.
Summers had his first multi-point game of the season with 1-1-2.
Teams:
Summers notched his first career shorthanded goal and Michigan's second of the season.
Michigan State's shorthanded goal in the first period marked the second time this season that U-M has allowed one. The last shorthanded goal by an opponent came on Oct. 17 at Northern Michigan.
Notables:
U-M collected 1,272 teddy bears during the first intermission, an all-time record.
Tonight's attendance of 6,934 set a season high.
Michigan has conceded first-period goals in only three of the last 11 games.
The Wolverines are 6-1-0 when leading after two periods.
U-M set a team-high in penalty minutes with 47 in the contest while breaking the record for most penalty minutes in a single frame with 31 during the second period.
Q U O T E S
Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
Opening comment... "I think that shorthanded goal was a big goal, by [Chris] Summers. We were killing off a penalty at that point, and I think that was big. Then we got another good chance from [David] Wohlberg on the PK. I think the line with [David] Wohlberg, [Aaron] Palushaj, and [Louie] Caporusso had a couple of chances, and they capitalized. I think that kind of turned the momentum of the game. Neither of these teams is known for scoring many goals, and every goal is precious, so we are not trying to score six goals, but that second goal was huge. You don't like to start off giving up the first goal of the game at home, but our team had enough confidence, we stayed with it, and we started playing better in the second period, and the wheel started to turn."
On David Wohlberg... "[Wohlberg] fit in well tonight. I think he will add something. I mean, he's a good player. He's like Carl Hagelin. They add something to any line they play on. So, the good thing about Wohlberg is he played well on the fourth line; he scored on that line. He played well on Turnbull's line when he played; he played well on Rust's line, and now he's playing well on Caporusso's line. So that is a sign of a good player."
On heading into the game ranked seventh in the CCHA... "Both teams are not in a familiar territory. I mean, when is the last time we were in seventh place [in the CCHA] When is the last time Michigan State was sitting in 10th place -- so neither of these teams is having a great first half [of the season]. So, we're still trying to prove something. We are trying to prove we are better than where we are, and I know they [Michigan State] are too."
On the difference between the first and second periods... "The bar is high, and obviously we're excited about playing at home. But the fans can't go on the ice and play for you, the players have to do it, and we know we didn't do it in the first period. When we had that five-minute major [power play]. I don't think we had two good shots on the net. Our team was frustrated by that. So we just had to refocus, and play the kind of hockey we are capable of playing. We don't need stupid penalties and so on. We are what we are, and I thought the second period was our best period."
On keeping the players calm... "We want them to play with emotion, but you want control of the emotion, and you want discipline. Everything happened down around their goalie. We are definitely not a team that tries to run the other team's goalie. But when a goalie is outside of the crease, and he's playing the puck, and the players are playing the puck, there is going to be contact. So that's a gray area for the referees and for the players. So, two or three scrums started because of that."
On the number of penalties tonight... "I think the two teams learned that the penalties don't help anyone. We have to play hard, we have to play physical, and we have to play with intensity. Honesty penalties are one thing, but that after the whistle stuff. We don't need that."
On tomorrow night's game at Michigan State... "We have to start worrying about the right things, and how hard we wanted to work in this game, and the things that we do well, and start doing those things -- specifically, in the offensive zone, and forechecking, and breaking out the puck. I mean, we turned the puck over so many times in the first period. But you can't tell a team what not to do; you have to tell them what to do."
Junior Defenseman Chris Summers
On being surprised about the game... "We knew coming into the game it was going to be a battle. We hate them as much as they hate us. The coaches said it best, 'There are no friends when it comes to Friday and Saturday night'. Obviously they showed up, especially in the first period. We knew it was going to be a battle for 60 minutes, and the puck bounces went our way tonight."
On refocusing after the first period... "We refocused in the locker room after the first period. We were a little frustrated, especially after that five-minute power play early on. You could tell right off the bat in the locker room that guys were getting re-motivated and refocusing. I think it showed up in the beginning of the second period."
On tonight's win... "We went back to basics. We struggled a little bit in the beginning of the year. Talking to the coaches that was the one thing they wanted us to get back to -- the basics. Making sure we're clearing pucks, making sure we're beating them off the walls. I think that's the biggest difference. If we're playing smart, simple hockey, it's going to show, and I think it showed tonight."
Freshman Forward David Wohlberg
On playing in his first rivalry game... "It felt really good. When I was younger, I came to a lot of Michigan vs. Michigan State games. Getting out there and playing is completely different from just watching. The guys on the team were getting amped up the whole week, and they got the freshmen ready too."
On scoring twice... "I'm getting moved around on a lot of lines. On my line right now, pucks are just coming to me."
Sophomore Forward Aaron Palushaj
On the addition of freshman David Wohlberg to his line... "He's a big, fast player, and he gets pucks to the net. He's getting great puck bounces right now, and they're going into the net. He adds a new dimension to mine and Louie's [Caporusso] game, and it really paid off this game that we played together."
