Postgame Quotes: #6 Western Michigan 3, #3 Michigan 2
11/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 4, 2011
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game overall ... "Well there was no surprise, we knew Western would come in here and play well and play hard and they did. They got that all important lead and we got back in the game in the second and I thought we had a better second period and we had some momentum. Then we had to kill a couple of penalties, which did not help us because even if they do not score it gives the other team some offensive momentum in the game. Then in the last 10 minutes of the game, when the game was on the line, I thought we got outplayed and outworked and we played most of that 10 minutes in our own zone."
On losing momentum at the end of the third period ... "We shouldn't run out of steam. This is Friday night and this is at home. There is no excuse for that. Our players tried hard, but I can't tell you we played well. We were outworked and we were out-this and out-that in the third period. We had isolated chances on rushes and he either made a save or we did not get a break. Let's face it, it was a sloppy goal to give up in a close game like that."
On the team's special teams play ... "I thought we controlled the puck well on the power play. We didn't maybe execute or just about a lot of close plays. Obviously as I have mentioned before, we are a better team five on five than we are on special teams right now. Now that does not mean we could not have a break-out night tomorrow, but we are not necessarily hot in either of those areas right now."
On what needs to improve for tomorrow night ... "I think our will and our perseverance and work ethic. We got a couple of easy goals and they got a couple of easy goals. I think both teams will be tighter tomorrow."
U-M Senior Defenseman Greg Pateryn
On the last 10 minutes of the third period ... "The last 10 minutes of the game, for how many good chances we had, they just kept pounding us down in our zone and outworking us, and that's just hustle and effort, that has nothing to do with skill."
On why the power play struggled tonight ... "When you're on the power play you're not going to score every time. A good power play is every one out of five. We had our chances and a couple good shots on net, a couple good plays, but if you don't score on four or five power plays it's not the end of the world."
On the importance of cutting down on penalties tomorrow ... "It's huge. We've been spending too much time in the penalty box all year, it's something that we have to work on and be more disciplined. Everyone, from the goalie, to the defense, all the way up to the forwards, I think it's a big part of the momentum of the game."
U-M Sophomore Defenseman Mac Bennett
On why the power play struggled tonight ... "I think it's just a practice thing. I think the power play is something where you go in and you just have to bear down and focus and I don't think the focus was there. I thought we did have good puck movement, but for the most part we have to calm down with the puck when we get it and take control of it. And that's something that I don't think we did tonight."
On the younger players rebounding from tonight's loss ... "I think tomorrow will definitely be an emotional game. You lose a game like that in the last minute of the game, you know, I think guys are going to remember. I think we have a team that will be able to bounce back and get after them tomorrow."
