Postgame Quotes: #14 Michigan 4, Michigan State 1
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Feb. 8, 2015
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On delay at start of game ... "We were at the hotel, and we got a call that it was pushed back from 7:00 to 7:40, and then a couple hours later it got pushed back to 8:40. I don't know what the time would've been when they would've said that we can't play the game, but I thought the ice would get better once the sun went down. Even though you've got compressors going, and they had some problems with the compressors too. I don't know if that was the deciding factor, but it was great weather. I'm glad we played the game. Look at all the alternatives. Cancel the game, try to play it tomorrow here, try to play it at a later date at Yost, because it's our home game. I'm glad we got it done."
On Zach Nagelvoort's game ... "I thought he was smart with the puck, outside of the one rebound which they scored, on a loose puck. He covered up everything around the net. It was hard because the puck was bouncing. He helps our D by playing the puck behind the net."
On forecheck tonight ... "It was way better. I thought our forecheck was better. I thought our defensive zone was better. I thought our neutral zone was better. I thought our second effort was better. We had more second effort and more physicality. We were more invested in the game than we were last week. I'm not taking anything away from State because they played well last week, and there were parts of the game tonight that they were on the verge of turning the tables, but I thought we were more invested emotionally and physically in the game tonight."
On playing in Chicago ... "I like the idea. I've made a lot of personal trips over here just for fundraising, to many alumni events. It makes sense to come over here, and I was hoping to play for a bigger crowd, but that didn't happen. Just the same, it was good for Michigan to come and play here. I think it's huge for us. We've had some good players from Chicago before we were even in the Big Ten, and hopefully we are going to get more. I think it's important that we are playing in this market for recruiting too."
U-M Junior Forward Andrew Copp
On his general thoughts on the game ... "It was really important for us to not let them get into their trap, their neutral zone which is really good defensively. Scoring the first goal was important to us, getting that second goal was great to get us rolling. Getting our lines contributing on a nightly basis was important to us. Playing in their zone, getting pucks up near their goal line and chipping pucks past their defense. All around better turnover and puck decisions at the blue line for us."
On keeping pace in the Big Ten ... "I think it was really important, we saw that they won their early game, put them in first place, so jumping back on top was really important for us. Obviously, we have 10 games left; we play each Big Ten team twice, so we like where we're sitting. Like you said, getting the momentum going into the final stretch, really good stretch to start the second half of the year, with GLI and then our conference games last weekend, good to get back on the right foot going forward."
On what the team did during the delay ... "Well we were at the hotel; I was planning on the seven start. I had to take my two-hour nap. I woke up at 3:30 and saw that we had five hours till the game starts. I think we watched a movie, went to snack early, got some food, got back in a normal routine, once the game started to get close."
U-M Freshman Defenseman Cutler Martin
On his goal in the second period ... "(Justin) Selman, Boo (Nieves) and Tony Calderone were working hard down low, throwing pucks on net. There was a lot of traffic, and I think Selman shot the puck. Went off their goalie, popped out to me, gloved it, and there was a lot of traffic, and it popped through luckily."
On growing up in East Lansing and playing against Michigan State ... "It's great to beat the Spartans, but I want to beat every single team we play. That was a big goal for our team; I'm glad it helped us to a win."
U-M Sophomore Goaltender Zach Nagelvoort
On having the mindset of a starter ... "I mean I always approach games like I'm going to play them, whether I'm the starter or not. I feel like in my position, you have to be prepared to go every single night as we've seen. You never know when you're going to get thrown in there."
On the ice conditions ... "Not great (laughter). No in all seriousness, today was a ton better compared to yesterday. Obviously looking at the ice, it's the same ice for both teams, so say what you want about it, but everyone is going to have to play on it."
