Michigan State 3, Lake Superior State 3
1/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Jan. 5, 2008
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
On how to look at this game...
Well, I don't know; it was a good tie for them, and a bad tie for us. It was a very hard fought game, and certainly the difference in the two games was the goaltending. I thought both goalies played well tonight, and we had a lot of chances to get up by several in the first. We didn't, and then they made a game of it.
On the outlook of the weekend...
Well, it is certainly much better than last weekend. But those are not very big steps, though. There are just some things we have issues with. We give up so many shots; it just blows my mind how many quality shots that shouldn't even get to the net. We know that we have a young defense, and that we have a ways to go, but I thought they struggled bad tonight, especially defending.
On Jeff Lerg keeping them in the game...
I thought both goaltenders played well; I don't think one played better than the other. They both had to make a lot of saves. Like their kid [Bryan Mahoney-Wilson] made a great save in overtime, and Jeff, with only a couple seconds to go, had to make a great save. Right now he is bailing out our defense for sure. I thought [Lake Superior State] worked out; they were in it, and they were scrappy. Obviously, they liked the way the game was going physically.
Lake Superior State Head Coach Jim Roque
Overall impressions...
Obviously, it was a lot better. Brian [Mahoney-Wilson] played outstanding in net. You've got to give Michigan State some credit for last night; I thought they were real good. I knew our guys would bounce back today...It was just a great effort all around. I'm really happy with how we came back.
On the play of goaltender Brian Mahoney-Wilson...
I thought Brian was very aggressive out there. He got out of the net. I think that's one thing I haven't seen out of Pat Inglis lately. I thought we did a much better job of helping him tonight, too.
Michigan State goalie Jeff Lerg
On how he felt about earning a tie tonight...
Give them credit; they're a good team.They could've folded after the first period. They came out, took it to us and got back on the board. They got a little fluky bounce and ran with it. But they played hard, and they played well. They're going to beat some teams in the second half [of the season]. They're getting some confidence here, and becoming the team that they want to be.
On how the team prepared for this weekend and what they need to do to prepare for Notre Dame...
We had a good week of practice, and we played really well yesterday. Today was really good at times, and it was really sloppy at times. We showed what we can do; we just need to sustain it for 60 minutes. We're going to need that next weekend against Notre Dame. They're the type of team that likes to wear you down, like Miami, and they're really smart with the way they play. They're really disciplined and don't give up many opportunities. We really need to work on the little things to get better during the week and get ready for them.
On the number of deflected and screened shots he faced in the game...
I like to get a lot of shots, but this was a little hectic, with the puck bouncing everywhere. On the power play, they were just throwing it to the net, and it was hitting off sticks and skates. That's what good teams do; they find a way to score. They were throwing it to the net and creating chances off that. It was tough for us to defend. I'd rather see a lot of shots that are clean. It keeps me definitely aware and alert. I didn't have any time for a mental lapse because that could've cost us.
On what the team needs to do for the rest of the season...
I don't think we're as good defensively as we have been my first couple of years here. We're just giving up too many chances and opportunities. It's something we're going to have to work on during the week. It's our defensive turnovers and defensive zone coverage. When you turn the puck over, don't let on to the mistakes. It's everyone included. I have to do a better job controlling rebounds and not giving up second and third opportunities. Forwards have to keep coming back, and the defense has to stay with their guys. It's just overall team defense here.
Michigan State Forward Bryan Lerg...
On if this tie feels like a loss...
Yeah, for sure. We played a pretty good first period, then things started to get a little sloppy in the second. In the third period we had some chances to win there, but we just couldn't finish. We we're losing a couple stick battles tonight. But I give them credit; they worked hard and battled back. I thought they gave a lot of effort.
On the tone Lake Superior set by scoring twenty-four seconds into the game...
We had a two-on-one going down the ice, and Kennedy just missed that one. And they go back, answer the bell and put one in. But, I knew they were going to come out strong, and we all did. And we were ready for it. I thought we had a good first period, and got shots on net. But we have just got to learn to finish more. We had chances to win that game.
On who played the best for the Spartans...
I'd probably say Chris Mueller. He had a great game. I think there were probably four or five times where he fed the puck to Kennedy or Abdelkader. In the first period, he sent Kennedy on a breakaway or a two-on-one. And I think he had six shots on net tonight. And he was good on face-offs, so he was a key player.
