From The Lockerroom
10/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State vs. Nebraska-Omaha
Oct. 30, 2004 * East Lansing, Mich.
Post-Game Quotes
MSU Head Coach Rick Comley
On the game ...
"I thought we played really well last night, and I was certainly surprised by the level of play tonight. We played hard for about 10 minutes in the third period - that's all. I think this game was won 5-on-5 and we just did not play with any get up and go.
"I thought we had a great week of practice, I thought we played well last night, and just didn't answer the bell tonight. We had a couple of early scoring chances, but they didn't get it in, and they got that first one on us and then there was that flurry in the second.
On the play of Chris Holt and the Maverick penalty-killing unit...
"I thought he played well tonight. Tonight, he made some good saves, especially at very important times, and their penalty kill did a very good job. We just could not get the puck through."
UNO Head Coach Mike Kemp
On the improvement of the team...
"Tonight we didn't come out on our heels. Last night, I think we were a little overwhelmed at times. We were more intense tonight and we were executing within our system better. As a team, there was so much improvement."
On the second period...
"In the second period, we had to kill off four penalties in a row. It's tough because guys were in and out of the box and then we got a quick power play, then we went right back into the box. It's hard to get a flow with the play going like that. That's a turning point in the game to prove we can keep them off the scoreboard. You can't let MSU hang around too long, because they are a good team and they can hurt you."
On MSU's late surge...
"I was pretty comfortable going into the third period, but with a team like Michigan State it's a little scary when they start putting quick goals on the board like they did towards the end of the thrid. We've got a young group of guys, the group that were freshmen and are now sophomores are really giving us a lift as they mature."
On Chris Holt...
"He had some huge saves tonight. He needed to come up big a few times, and when he had to he did. Tonight the shots weren't as tough as last night, but a game like that is good to get a goalie's confidence level up."
Michigan State Player Quotes
Tommy Goebel, F, So.
On how the game just didn't go the Spartans way...
"I think that they came out pretty good. They came out strong and we just weren't there. I don't know why, but we weren't ready for them tonight. It was a tough night all around. We couldn't get anything through, couldn't do anything. We all need to get going here."
On the responsibility the players have to motivate themselves...
"If you are playing at this level you should be able to motivate yourself to play. It shouldn't be something that your coach has to do. You should be able to do it yourself. I don't know why we aren't doing that."
Drew Miller, F, So.
On his overall outlook on the game...
"We came out really expecting to have a good weekend and the loss tonight really put an end to that. I think that we had a few moments of brilliance, but most of the time we were just fighting the puck and not making passes. We just didn't get it done out there tonight."
On UNO's play...
"They played really well and were a solid team. They took it to us on both offense and defense. They deserved to win the game tonight."
David Booth, F, Jr.
On how the Spartans need to work to win a weekend series...
"Obviously, we are disappointed and we really need to put two games together in order to be a good team. When you look at all of the other good teams in the country, they are always putting together weekends against teams that they are suppose to beat. We were suppose to beat this team, but they came out there and they played their heart out. That's why we didn't win. We just didn't outwork them."
On the team's lack of intensity...
"It wasn't where it should be. I don't know how you can come to the rink on a Saturday night and just not be fired up to play, especially in front of your own fans. It's something that you have to work on with yourself; something that no one else can do for you."
Jared Nightingale, D, Jr.
On how mental errors were costly for the Spartans...
"I thought that we played OK for the first period. We had a lot of chances. I thought that the defense played well there. But we just got caught running around. They scored three goals in the second period. We had a couple of mental breakdowns. Those couple shifts that made those mental errors; we just have to get those out of our system because it is costing us right now."
On how the team is missing intensity...
Obviously, it wasn't where it should be. Not taking anything away from UNO, they deserve what they got. They showed a lot of heart and work ethic. It was just during the last 10 minutes that we showed what we are capable of."