Michigan State 4, Lake Superior 0
1/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 20, 2007
MSU Head Coach Rick Comley
Opening Statement...
Early, we got in penalty trouble, and Jeff was really good, that one paddle save he made when he dove over was tremendous. When we had penalty problems he held us around, and they had 5-on-3 for a while and didn't score, and we got the lead and got better as the night went on.
On the two early penalties...
It didn't help us that's for sure. We wanted 5-on-5 play and try to get some fuel and momentum going. If they score and then you're behind the eight ball again, and we all know how good Jeff Jakaitis is. But again, a very solid effort.
On the game overall...
I like the way we played overall. We were under control, Vukovic and Gentile have improved so much, they're playing well. We've had a stretch of strong, good teams we've been playing against, and I thought the two of them have really stepped up.
Lake Superior State Head Coach Jim Roque
Overall impressions...
We let in two goals real late in periods tonight, and that always hurts. We had some chances in the first where we were right in front of the net and we couldn't get it over Jeff Lerg. That could've given us the lead, and instead they came out of the first period with the lead. We're just struggling with confidence, but we're playing hard, and our guys want to win and they're trying. I thought we played more controlled tonight and I thought we competed a bit better. We played hard but we're just not making good decisions with the puck right now.
On his team's losing streak...
We've just got to get our confidence back. Every team goes through it. Look at Michigan State last year in November when they didn't win a game all month. We've just got to stay with it with the same guys that got us to this point. There's nothing for us to change, it's just a matter of working hard this week, feeling good about ourselves and getting some good habits back.
On some bad bounces LSSU got...
That's just the way it's going right now. When it was 2-0, we hit the pipe on the power play when that could have made it 2-1. Sometimes it's a game of inches and other times it's a game of miles.
Michigan State Center Bryan Lerg
On the weekend series and his 21st birthday...
I think it was a big four points for us this weekend. Tonight, I thought we were sloppy at times - but I felt we played a better game tonight as a team, and I think the score showed that. It was nice to win on my birthday and score. I actually told Jeff (Lerg) before the game that I had a feeling he was going to get a shutout for some reason. He was looking at some other goalie stats and I said, "Watch you get a shutout tonight." So, I just crossed my fingers in the last couple minutes there.
On how it felt going into the third period with a three-goal lead...
It was definitely a great feeling after the second period, going into the last period up 3-0. We just knew all we had to do was win the period. That's all we say every time - just win the period. We played great defense, even though we had couple bad turnovers that led to a couple of chances for them. Luckily, Jeff stood on his head tonight so I give him the credit for the shutout for sure.
On his overall thoughts of the team...
With the depth that we have on our team, right now I feel like all our lines are going well. I think we have some depth and it's really made our team a lot better. Our defense is really stepping up at this point as well.
On defenseman Daniel Vukovic's goal...
A new guy steps up every night I feel. Look at Dan Vukovic tonight - just crashing into the net as hard as can be. Who would have ever thought he would be busting through the middle? Then again, he's using his head right now. He's smart, he's playing tough and he's hitting guys. That's what's making him better. Everyone's stepping up at the times they need to - it's not just one person.
Michigan State Sophomore Goaltender Jeff Lerg
On the game...
That was just a good Spartan hockey kind of game - we didn't give them that many chances. I gave up a big rebound in the first period and had to make a desperation save, but we really didn't give up much after that. I was pretty happy with the game, I didn't want to give up any soft goals that would have ruined the shutout or gotten them back in the game.
On getting the victory on both Bryan Lerg and Coach Comley's birthday...
I just knew we needed to get the win and the points for conference reasons and for national reasons. It was nice for Bryan to get the game-winning goal on his birthday and for us to give coach another win on his birthday. It ended up being a nice weekend for all of us.
On the confidence and overall performance of the team...
I think we now know what it takes to win. There have been some times in the first half of the year when we have been really good, but also when we have been pretty bad. Now we are getting a little more consistent performance from everyone and we have a bit more solidified lineup night in and night out. Guys are fitting into their roles well, and the defense is playing better after an adjustment period in the first half. After a rough first period in yesterday's game, we put together five good periods.
On now having a weekend off...
There are positives and negatives of having a week off. I like getting in there and seeing a lot of action - the more shots I see and stop, the more confident and better I feel. Having the week off, I will have a little more time to work on some things like rebounds and some other things I'm not as comfortable with. Hopefully I'll come out refreshed for the month of February, and the rest of the season so we can make a run at it.
