Postgame Quotes
10/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 13, 2006
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
Overall assessment of the game...
Overall I was pretty happy with how we played for this being our regular-season opener. We were really sharp at times, but at the same time we struggled on the power play. It is very early though, so we have time to correct it.
On Western's goaltending...
I thought Bellissimo was outstanding in net for them tonight. He continued to come up with big saves on us, especially during our power plays. Western is always a tough team to play against. They play hard every time out.
On Jeff Lerg's play...
Jeff had some tremendous saves for us and played well as usual. He was especially good on a couple of odd-man rushes they had, as well as during their five-on-three midway through the third period.
On tonight's line combinations...
Our third line played ok tonight, but it was especially tough after Bryan Lerg left the game and we had to start juggling guys around. The fourth line provided the energy we expected from them as well. The Abdelkader-Crowder-Kennedy line was dynamite as always. Crowder and Kennedy are best of friends off the ice and it shows out there - they have great chemistry. On Crowder's first goal, all he had to do was tap his stick twice and Kennedy delivered a perfect pass to him.
Overall, the lines blended well together. The Mueller and McKenzie line complements the other top line well because they play a very physical game as opposed to a speed game. They always do a good job of initiating the contact.
Michigan State Sophomore Forward Justin Abdelkader
On the physical nature of Friday night's game...
I really enjoy physical games like that. I think that's right up my alley. When a game is physical like tonight was, it really helps me get into the game.
On the play of his line...
I thought we played really well as a line tonight. We did a real good job of moving the puck and we saw the ice well. I think we were able to pick up from where we left off last season.
Michigan State Sophomore Forward Tim Crowder
On scoring after missing his first few shots...
Well obviously you're disappointed when you get really good chances like that, but you just have to bear down on the next chance you get, and I ended up doing that in the next period so it was good.
They're great players, and you know you're going to get another chance, and he just knew exactly where I was on the ice, and that's just the type of player Kennedy is, he reads and reacts pretty well, and I was lucky enough to be open then.
On his and Tim Kennedy's chemistry...
Obviously from last year being in the dorms together and eating together all the time we have something going, but we've been together a whole year now. All last year we were playing together after Kennedy's hand got better. We practice hard together, and the chemistry's just been great between the two of us.
On getting an early jump in the game...
We really wanted to come into the first game really hard. We didn't want to give them many chances at all, and that's what we did. We came out hard and made sure that they couldn't get anything, and we just kept coming at them.
On the fight...
In junior hockey, that's the play: when someone goes after your teammate, you want to get in there and defend them and drop the gloves if you have to.
You also have to know that at this level, you can't do that stuff, and you have to restrain yourself, but once again, he's your teammate and you have to protect him.
Michigan State Sophomore Forward Tim Kennedy
On the team's play...
I think it was a good first game for our team, but not the best overall. We were kind of sloppy in our own zone, I think we can get better there, and we need to stop committing so many penalties. Other than that, you can't ask for more than a three-goal win at home in the first game. Our defense played strong, Jeff (Lerg) played well, and we got our lines rolling, so you can't ask for more than that.
On his setup of Tim Crowder in the second period...
Well he was screaming from about the blue line down, so we kind of caught up. I knew Crowder would be open because I could hear him, so I flew it to him and I think he had the whole net, and that was his first goal in about eight tries.
Western Michigan Head Coach Jim Culhane
On when Western Michigan scored late in the first period...
When you score a goal like that late in the period the momentum tends to carry over to the next period. I thought for the early part of the second period we controlled play, but Michigan State did a very good job of keeping our shots to the perimeter and they were able to get the next two goals.
On the penalties Western Michigan took...
As a coach, the penalties that frustrate you are the hooking and holding. Penalties like that come from having poor body position when playing defense. When you play a team with great speed like Michigan State, you end up doing whatever you can to keep the man from getting by you and that often results in penalties.
