Postgame Quotes: Michigan 3, Wisconsin 0
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 27, 2015
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's victory ... "Wisconsin came in and played really hard. We were hoping to get the puck out of our own zone better early in the game, but they made it tough and it took a while before we got going. We got better in the second period, and then in the third period the go-ahead goal was huge. Special teams were huge in this game, and it was one of our better games on paper and we scored a couple on the power play."
On the team's defense without Michael Downing ... "I thought Nolan De Jong came in and did a good job and had a good game. And Mike Chiasson was our seventh defenseman and he did a good job. We turned the puck over a few times, but for the most part we were defense by committee."
On Steve Racine posting his first career shutout ... "Is that his first one? Good for him. That's what happens when you stay focused for 60 minutes. I think he's been on the verge having shutouts, and he should have had one last week. It bothers me when we don't get a shutout when we could, because it's a team thing where it's not just the goalie. I thought our team gave up a couple of really good scoring chances, one late in the third that he had to be the difference because the guy was all alone in front. Good for him, and good for our team."
On scoring 15 straight goals against Wisconsin dating back to Jan. 23 ... "You don't see that much, but college hockey is a game of momentum, and when we get momentum we're pretty good. When our opponent gets it, they can be pretty good. Right now, we've got to keep our opponent from getting momentum, but that Wisconsin series is long gone. We knew it would be a whole different ballgame tonight."
U-M Senior Forward Zach Hyman
On the team's defensive effort ... "I think it's huge. Especially getting Steve (Racine) a shutout tonight, getting some confidence for him and confidence in our defense. That's huge going into playoff hockey. You win playoff games by having low goals against, and we did well with that."
On his goal ... "I mean when you shoot a puck like that and it goes in, you're not really trying to score from that angle. I was trying to get it to Dylan (Larkin) backdoor, and it just went in."
U-M Sophomore Forward JT Compher
On the play of Steve Racine ... "I think we saw what you all saw. We played a good defensive game, but we did have some breakdowns where he had to bail us out. I think there were two breakaways off line changes which can't happen, and he did what he had to do. (He) kept us in the game and made big saves. (He) gave us a lot of confidence, and on the scoreboard it was great."
On facing an improved Wisconsin team ... "We knew we had to be ready for this team. On Friday in Madison they came out and took it to us, so we knew this team could be dangerous. They want to prove themselves, come into our building and win the game. I think our guys were ready, but we have some improvement to do for tomorrow, and I think our guys will be ready."
U-M Junior Goaltender Steve Racine
On his first career shutout ... "I was happy to get the win. This time of year, it's going to take anything to win, whether it's ugly goals, like we saw the first goal tonight. I just need to make the saves I need to make to give us a chance."
On making a key early breakaway stop ... "I think the puck was ahead of him, he was skating up to it. I knew there was a defenseman coming in so he wouldn't have time to deke, so he was probably going to shoot it as soon as he got it. I just tried to set my feet, get a big base, and make the save."
