From The Locker Room
10/15/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State vs. St. Lawrence
Oct. 15, 2004 * Munn Ice Arena
Senior forward Jim Slater
On problems with the power play...
"I don't know. We just can't score and get the puck in the net. They did a good job blocking the first shot and clearing the zone. We had some good whacks at it. It's just taking shots on net and not finishing them when we had the chance."
On St. Lawrence's success defending shots...
"They just did a good job blocking shots. It's frustrating for the defensemen not getting it through but it's definitely frustrating for us. We have to stay as a unit and keep plugging away at it. Sunday is a new day."
On not getting the bounces to go their way...
"I mean we knew we were getting our chances. Their goalie played well. It's frustrating but you have to keep working harder. I know you hear that a lot but it's true. You have to make the shots count when you have them. You have to get shots in front of the net.
"I think they had two power-play goals and that was the difference tonight. That's the way it goes. No excuses, but they've been in three tough games already and this is their fourth. You know it's frustrating with the rules but you have to play with them."
On adjusting to the new rules...
"We took some stupid penalties, some lazy ones. Some one where you can't hit the guy and it's tough. It takes a lot of guys out of the line-up that usually wouldn't. But you have to abide by them. It was tough tonight and that's just the way it happens."
On facing New Hampshire Sunday...
"Well, we're not going to go undefeated now and that takes that out of it. Last year, we lost to Findlay in the first game and came back to beat a good Minnesota-Duluth team. I think tomorrow is going to be a good practice for us. We'll work on power play a little bit and get ready for UNH which is a fast, tough team to play. It's going to be a good one."
Senior forward Adam Nightingale
On whether the problems had to do with it being the first game...
"Obviously, you give the edge to the other team that has played a few games but good teams find a way. We've got to find a way to get it done I guess."
On whether the team can score with more ease...
"I think you are never going to score easy. It's always going to be tough. Obviously, that's a big part of our team is putting the puck in the net and I think for sure that we have the talent and the guys to do it. We're not going to settle for anything less.
"We're making mistakes and we're human. Then again you can always to back to that we hadn't played a game yet but we have a lot of older guys in the line-up. I don't think that should make a difference."
On what the team needs to do to get more quality chances...
"We had a few good quality chances there but I think it's going those second ones those rebounds and trying to bury those. In the first goal, we did. In college hockey today there aren't too many coast-to-coast goals and if you are going to be a successful team you're going to score a lot of garbage goals."
Freshman forward Peder Skinner
On his first collegiate game...
"It was pretty fast-paced compared to what I was used to. I thought we played well at times, but we struggled to finish. They had played a few more games than us and that made a difference. Once I was going for awhile I got used to the speed."
On hitting the post...
"I didn't really see the shot. I just got the puck, buried my head and hoped for the best. I definitely heard it clink though."
On the new interpretation of the rules...
"It's hard because, you're just not going to get away with some of the stuff you used to be able to. It's just something that we are going to have to get used to as a team. It will affect the flow of the game until everyone gets used to it. It's not just us having the problem, every team is adjusting."
Sophomore defenseman A.J. Thelen
On the power play...
"We are working on the power play and we need to continue to work on it. With the new interpretation of the rules, power plays are going to be a key factor in most games. We need to get more quality shots off from the point and when they start to come out to the points we need to work it around better down low. I give credit to St. Lawrence they blocked a lot of our shots on the power play."
On improving the offensive attack...
"We need to be more consist with the puck in terms of better passes and less turnovers. No matter how good we may be, we can't give the puck to the other team. We need to spread our opponent out more and that will come with the chemistry once we get more game experience together."
On rebounding from the loss...
"There were a lot of high expectations for this team this year. Losing tonight is a hit, but it's part of the game' we just need to come to the rink ready to go tomorrow and put this loss behind us. There are no excuses for losing but they had four games under their belt and this was our first one."
On the flow of the game...
"It's tough for defensemen now adjusting to these new rule interpretations. You try to be physical, and it's hard to tell how far you can go. I came out tonight and took a penalty on my first shift. It really is a little tougher to get into the flow. It's something we have to get used to. Every team will have to get used to it."
