Michigan State 6, Mercyhurst 2
11/9/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 9, 2007
Mercyhurst Head Coach Rick Gotkin
Overall impressions...
We felt like if we could be in this thing in the third period then we would have a chance. We lost the first period, tied the second period, and we felt like that if we could have a good start in the third we could have a chance. Then the shorthanded goal killed us. Our power play had been really good up to that point, but that shorthanded goal was really the straw that broke the camel's back.
On Michigan State...
Obviously they're very skilled. I think the thing that really stood out was how strong they were on their sticks. There were a lot of "50-50" pucks that they just seemed stronger on. I don't know if that comes from playing in the CCHA, being an NHL draft pick or being a Michigan State hockey player.
On Scott Pitt...
He's a real talented kid. He's very good offensively, seeing things that most other people can't see. He's also really making a good effort to be good in our end defensively. He was really a highlight for us tonight.
On the first period...
It was kind of weird because I don't think we played that bad in the first period, we just were down 2-0. I always say that come from behind hockey is losing hockey. It's hard to come from behind in our league, let alone come from behind against Michigan State at Michigan State.
Michigan State Junior Forward Tim Kennedy
On the team's play tonight...
We didn't want to put too much pressure on ourselves, we just kind of went out there and played the game and moved the puck around real well, no one was selfish. Their goalie made some great saves and kept them in the game early and we were able to get to them late.
On cycling in the opponent's zone and the fans' response...
We cycle, that's really our team theme. We're not the type of team that's going to come up and down the ice roaring back and forth like Michigan. We need to cycle and the fans realize that and they start cheering and that really gets us going and it builds our whole team's strength.
On scoring a shorthanded breakaway goal...
Well, first I kind of tripped over my own feet. I looked up and they were still at the blue line, so I knew I had a breakaway. In practice, we do a shootout drill and earlier this week I was fooling around with Jeff and I didn't get a shot off, I just ran right into him. I was just hoping I didn't fall and run right into the goalie - all I wanted to do was get a shot on net.
On deciding on a move to make on the breakaway...
I was pushing to the far side, but he kind of took that away. He came out kind of far and I faked the shot. When I get down there, I just kind of black out because I use that move about eight out of ten times on a breakaway. [laughs] Coach doesn't like it, but it's been working lately.
Michigan State Junior Forward Justin Abdelkader
On Michigan State's scoring depth...
I think it shows how capable we are of putting a lot of goals in the net this year. We have a lot of skilled guys that can put the puck in the net. Sometimes the puck is going in for you, sometimes it's not. That's just the way the game is. A guy like Tim Kennedy has the puck really going in for him right now, but in three games or so it might not be so other guys have to step up.
On the positives of Michigan State's play...
We came out and played really well. I was kind of worried, because coming back from the Alaska trip is always difficult. I think Coach giving everyone the day off on Monday really helped everyone get their feet under them. I think we came out the first 10 minutes and played really well.
