Postgame Quotes: Michigan 8, Ohio State 3
12/5/2014 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Dec. 5, 2014
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On special teams ... "Well you guys have been to practice most days, and you can see that we have spent time working on the PK one day or the power play the next day. I think just tweaking that and getting more confidence and chemistry on those groups, and it's obviously important. I mean I can tell you before the game that we didn't want to get into a special-teams game with Ohio State, but it turned out that way and worked in our favor.
On Tyler Motte's four assists ... "He's got patience. I always tell our team that you have more time than they think with the puck because you feel rushed and everybody is rushing you, but a smart player will take that split second and see the ice and be a little deceptive and Tyler is one of the those players. He knows what he is going to do with the puck before he has it, and then he delivers it on time and on target. I thought he moved the puck well, and you never know if you are going to get an assist on the play, but if you are moving the puck well just about every time you get it good things are going to happen. "
On Zach Werenski's goal with 11 seconds left in the first period ... "It was huge. Those last-minute goals are big goals, and that was a big booster. For us to leave the period with a goal lead after being down. We didn't know we were going to get eight goals at the time, we might have had to battle to get two, so that was important. But right now our team has a little bit of offensive confidence, but I'm just as glad we aren't playing tomorrow night in Columbus. If we had to go down and face that team tomorrow night it could be a whole different weekend. We won the game we had to win, and we will worry about the next time we have to play them after Christmas."
On what he likes about his team with almost half the games complete this season ... "We're getting better offensively, and we're getting better in the offensive zone and getting better in defensive zone, not spending as much time in our zone. Penalty killing is getting better and our PP is getting better, and I think our defense is getting better, and our forward lines are starting to show some offensive danger. They are good with the puck, and we have four lines that have a chance to score."
U-M Sophomore Forward Tyler Motte
On his seven assists in the last two games ... "I have to credit a little bit my linemates and a couple lucky bounces as well. We had some good defensive-zone presence and plays off the rush. Tony (Calderone) has buried a few good pucks when he's had a chance to shoot in the slot. It's just good hard work and working down low, getting to our game and getting pucks to the net."
On the team's great special-teams play ... "I think we've changed up our set up a little bit to keep people guessing. We have a couple different breakouts. We're putting guys in other spots and trying to get pucks to the net. Good things have happened."
U-M Junior Forward Andrew Copp
On scoring 25 goals in the last four games ... "Yeah, I think were starting to play. (Dylan) Larkin's line has had some chemistry right from the start that they have continued on, and JT (Compher)'s line also has chemistry, and the same goes for my line and Travis' (Lynch). When we get all four lines producing on a nightly basis, the goals are going to come, and you've seen that in the past couple weeks."
On if they wish they could play tomorrow night in Columbus ... "I would love to play tomorrow night. Keep this momentum going that we have right now. We've won six of seven and have some mojo in the locker room and some belief, and we're starting to come together. I would love for us to keep going, but we have a weekend off right now, and we have to get ready for BC next week."
On what the success of homestand means for the future ... "I think we had our backs against the wall after we got back home from Michigan Tech, and I think we responded really nicely. Other than those three minutes in the Penn State game, I think we have been pretty solid. We like where we're at and where we are headed, and we're going in the right direction."
