Michigan State University
Alaska-Fairbanks
Michigan State 4, Alaska 3
1/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 13, 2007
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening statement...
There was an edge for sure, but both teams ended up playing hockey. We played really well. We had control from start to finish - we just couldn't score. I thought (netminder) Rogers came up big for them. He was really good. He controlled play, he got whistles, he made big saves. He had no chance really on any of the goals, so he played really well. A lot of guys played solid. When you generate 48 shots, the only thing you worry about is being down 2-1 when you're dominating.
On facing the 2-1 deficit in the second period...
As long as it was only a one-goal separation, I thought we could get the goal back. But, the longer you go without doing it, then you do start to get worried. Tying the game late in the second period was big - emotionally just to go into the locker room relieved and relaxed. You can go in and regroup instead of having all that talk about staying with it. It's a brand new game - they go in down, and we go in up.
On the Spartans' ability to generate goals...
The Lerg line, when we put it together, I thought really had a chance of being a good line. After moving Nick (Sucharski) to the left wing, he got a goal, made a nice pass to McKenzie. I thought the talent level returned to the Abdelkader line, and they've struggled, but tonight they looked legit as a real good line. Howells and Mueller played real well, I moved Sturges up into that line, and that strengthened them.
Alaska Head Coach Tavis MacMillan
Overall impressions ...
Give credit to Michigan State they just had more legs and more energy in the first period. We looked like a tired hockey team tonight. I thought we finally started to get some life in the third period...we were able to come back and make it a game, but we looked tired. We were going with four defensemen most of the night and we had to change up our forecheck which didn't allow us to be nearly as aggressive.
On the play of goaltender Wylie Rogers ...
He was outstanding. If it wasn't for Wylie the game would've been over in the first period. Because of Wylie we were in the game in the third period.
On Michigan State...
These guys are without a doubt as good as anyone I've seen in our league. We've just got to tell our guys that we played one of the best teams in the country in our league and when we want to we can play with them. We're not there yet because we haven't done it over a period of time like (Michigan State) has, but if we keep building we'll be alright.
Michigan State Sophomore Wing Nick Sucharski
On the atmosphere surrounding the game...
We've never had a building be that loud for us, just playing in front of fans like that is just awesome. You step on the ice and just want to go, you want to have a hit, you want to score, you want to do anything you can to help the team.
Oh his goal...
I was just happy to play with Lerg and McKenzie. Those guys put you in places and make you look good because that was not a hard shot, but I was just in the right place at the right time. Howie made a great pass out and I put it in.
On his assist to McKenzie...
[Rogers] bit on my little shoulder fake, which was good. I just gave it right to him and he was in the right spot. It's so easy to find him because he always in the right spot. When you're playing with good players like that it's a lot easier to score.
On the physical play...
We've really been working with our lines and getting good line match-ups with each other. We have three real solid lines right now and when you have guys that work that well together, you have guys that are really forechecking real hard and you have the first guy going in hard and making sure that he takes the man. When you go in and hit you have a lot more opportunity and you can score a lot more.
Michigan State Junior Wing Jim McKenzie
On the overall feeling of the game...
I have had a lot of injuries and been in and out of lineups, so I am happy to have two good games in a row. It felt good waking up this morning and it's great to have a good game under my belt.
On the flow of the team...
It seems like when we're playing the body and being in physical games like tonight, that's when we play our best. I think we did a really good job positioning ourselves on their breakout.
On tonight's game compared to last night's...
It just seems like they have been on the road for so long. We knew they were going to come out fine in the first period because of what happened last night, but we just knew to weather the storm and hold them for a period or two. Then our legs would take over and they would start to get pretty tired. They just ran out of gas at the end. They weren't quite on our defense as fast as they were in the first period.
