From The Lockerroom
1/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Michigan State vs. Lake Superior State
Jan. 22, 2005 * Munn Ice Arena
Post-Game Quotes
MSU Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening Statement...
"It was a hard-fought game; Lake Superior played much better tonight. We didn't look as sharp as we did last night and they played a style of hockey that matched their size advantage. Both goaltenders were also on top of their games."
On how the team tried but just couldn't come out with the win...
"It is a tough league, and every team expects to win every night. The team tried hard, but they just weren't as sharp as last night, plus LSSU utilized the trap very well. I think last night was a fluke, this is how they have played all season."
On how last night's 8-0 victory could have affected his players...
"After a win like last night, a team tends to play a little too loose. Tonight, we probably didn't respect them as much as we should have, and we played frustrated. When you play frustrated, you do not play well."
On how the Lakers can beat you...
"They are big and strong, and they wear on you. Last night we got up so quick the game was over relatively over after the first period. But tonight, we still had some scoring opportunities late. Mike Lalonde had a few good shots late in the third, and David Booth hit the crossbar in overtime."
LSSU Head Coach Frank Anzalone
On the overall performance of his players ...
"Our youngsters played very well. They have to play with heart and desire every game, and last night, they never even got a chance to try and see if they were any good. State was on us quick, and they got a lot of puck breaks, and they buried every puck break they got. Tonight, our kids played hard and maybe deserved even more than a tie. You have to be respectful that you are in Munn Arena, and one point is very valuable to us at this point."
On the play of SO G Jeff Jakaitis ...
"Jakaitis has a really big heart. Big-hearted players can compete with anybody. They might not always win, but they'll always be there. I knew he'd do fine. Win, lose or draw, he was going in there tonight, and he did a great job. I'm very proud of him."
On the Lakers' finishing problems ...
"Until we get a (David) Booth or (Jim) Slater, who can finish? We just don't have pure finishers. We have some kids who have scored in junior hockey, but not at the elite level, and we don't have what you say a finisher is. We have to do everything by committee, and committee doesn't always succeed, but can sure give a great effort."
MSU Player Quotes
David Booth, Jr., F
On tonight's game...
"It's not a good feeling tying those guys tonight. As good as we played yesterday, we've got to play the same way today and it's frustrating not taking four points out of this weekend."
On Lake State's intensity tonight...
"They stuck to their game plan today and we didn't get four goals in the first period, so they had the mentality they were in the game the whole game; and they showed that and we couldn't get the lead like we did yesterday."
On getting three out of four points on the weekend...
"You can't have that mentality that three points is better than two points. You have to go for four points every weekend. On some of the weekends, when you're going against Michigan, you can't be going for two or three points against those guys. Every weekend, four points is the bottom line from now on."
Jim Slater, Sr., F
On tonight's game...,br> "This time of the year you go into the weekend needing four points, and we feel this is a loss for us. We feel we should have gotten four points; did we earn it, no we didn't earn it; but we felt we could come in here and get four points and to come away with three, we're not satisfied with that."
On Lake State trying to wear the Spartans down...
"They're big and strong, but to wear us out, we work hard during the week too and we prepare and there's no reason any team can wear us out. I think it's an excuse kind of thing; we didn't get the job done and that's the bottom line."
On MSU's power-play opportunities...
"That's a tough subject. We did have a lot of power plays, especially in the first period with the 5-on-3 that we actually did get one on that, but we had a lot of power plays and shots weren't getting through or we were just fumbling it in the corner, or they were pressuring us too much, and we didn't get any quality scoring chances on them. We said that if we can get two (power-play goals) a game we're right where we want to be, and that didn't happen tonight."
A.J. Thelen, So., D
On tonight's game...
"It's just disappointing. Nobody is coming out of here with smiles. It's just disappointing. We're always harping on how we have to do better and come out of here with four points, it's just not going our way."
On the game's intensity level...
"I think there were times they outplayed us, and times when we outplayed them. I think there were times their goalie made some key saves, and at times our goalie made some key saves. There is just a couple shots that went in and a couple that didn't, like Booth's at the end that hit the bottom of the crossbar. We'd like to get some bounces but they're just not coming our way right now."
On battling for position in the CCHA standings...
"The standings are important, you always look at the standings, but I think our team should go game-by-game. We need to worry about USA, worry about winning that game, and then we'll play Michigan, just worry about Friday night, don't worry about Friday and Saturday night. I think we should worry about one game at a time and just take it as that."
Mike Lalonde, Sr., F
Trapped playing their game...
"I think for the most part they did a great job of what they do, and that's trapping us and making us make mistakes and that's exactly what happened. It turned into their game because they played their game well and we made mistakes and didn't make simple little plays that we're supposed to make that we did last night and just didn't do today."
Was the team outplayed tonight or just not as in sync as last night?
"At times, I think they did really well on their forecheck compared to the night before. (Tonight) they pressed our defensemen and gave us a little less time and I think that turned into a few more turnovers against us. I think that was the best part of their game because or defensemen were struggling a little bit with (the pressure) and forwards were just trying to take off and we got mixed up. It's tough to make plays and get the puck out when the defensemen have a lot of pressure and can't get you the puck. It's tough to move out as a unit when that happens and that's the partially the wingers fault for not helping them out and maybe trying to do too much and the defensemen get a little flustered."
Positive about one point...
"I guess you could say yeah because it's a point in the CCHA standings and we're trying to move up, so it's better than zero. But at the same time a sweep at home is crucial to this program and we haven't done that yet and that's what it has to be. When you go home and play you can't look for a split. Sometimes you look for a split on the home, but that's not what should happen here."
