Post-Game Quotes

Jan. 6, 2006

Wayne State Head Coach Bill Wilkinson

On the play of his goaltender Matt Kelly...

"If it hadn't been for Matt Kelly it might have been a blowout. I thought goaltending was the bright spot for our team and probably their team as well."

On his team applying pressure in the third period...

"The whole idea was to remain close so we had a chance to pull it out or maybe get a couple of goals and tie it. We had a couple of chances, some nights those pucks go in, sometimes they don't. Lerg was sharp."

MSU Head Coach Rick Comley

Opening statement...

"They hang around, hang around, and that's the danger in a game like that with a team that's going to play that way. We make goalies look pretty good, but he (Wayne State netminder Matt Kelly) did make some really good saves and we don't score easily. We work hard, but we don't get the puck to the back of the net very easily. These are frustrating games, and you hope you don't start taking penalties, and we take two to give them 4-on-3 and 5-on-3 power plays. It's not easy right now, but every win is very important."

Comparing Wayne State now versus the first game of the season...

"I thought they were much more laid back, but that's the way they play. That's how he has built this team and he makes no bones about it. He's just trying to hang on and get it done, and technically I guess they played a pretty good game."

On the three Spartan goal scorers...

"It's great, you want kids to score. Sucharski, who's been a scorer all his life, has had to come off having mono so his goal will help him out a lot, and Nightingale doesn't get much reward or publicity so it's always nice to see him score. And Corey (Potter) has been so solid, so those are the types of goals in games like this that do go in. It's just so important for these kids to leave the building in a good frame of mind, and tomorrow's a big game. If you don't think this game means anything, if you want to play in the NCAA Tournament, that's how much it means."

Michigan State FR Forward Nick Sucharski

On scoring his first collegiate goal...

"Getting my first goal was quite a rush. I got the puck at the point and saw Mueller in front of the net so I just wired it. I got lucky I guess. I'm still in shock"

On the pressures of being a freshman...

"As a freshman you just don't know if you can make certain plays. To begin with I was really scared and hesitant, but a lot of the guys have really made my stay here a lot better."

Michigan State SR Defenseman Jared Nightingale

On the success of the power play...

"The power play played pretty well and that's something we focused on this week and we had quite a few the first few periods."

On his third period goal...

"Crowder rolled up, I called for the puck and he gave it to me. There was a lane to the net and I just tried to shoot it on net."

Michigan State SR Defenseman Corey Potter

On the defensemen contributing to the scoring...

"Everybody is expected to chip in a little here and there. When are big guys are scoring it's good for the guys back there to chip in and contribute."

On needing to continue to win...

"It's make or break. We need to win these games to continue play in the playoffs and play in the NCAA Tournament. You've got to treat these games as playoff games."

Michigan State FR Goaltender Jeff Lerg

On not facing many shots for two periods...

"It always tough those kinds of games where your team is on the power play a lot. Then they come down and get a few shots so you've got to stay mentally prepared."

On his play during the third period...

"During the third period I was moving well. Them having a power play kind of helped me get back into the game."

Michigan State SR Forward Drew Miller

On what the victory means for the Spartans...

"It's another step forward for our team. It's our goal for this half of the season to keep taking steps forward."

On the team's ability to close out games...

"It's always good to get those late goals. To get that third goal was huge because they came out hard in the third period."