Michigan State 3, Western Michigan 1
10/31/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 31, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. -
Michigan State Head Coach Rick Comley
On the play of Western Michigan...
I thought they played pretty well. They had pretty good speed and they came at us pretty well that way, and I think we can hurt them if we just get the puck to the goal line and keep it there, but they have a few forwards who get up and down and their goaltender played very, very well that way. I thought they played pretty well.
On the team's penalty killing...
Well it was a major concern because we lost all of our penalty killers. The one goal we did give up was kind of a bad break - the puck went through our guy's legs. We had too much practice today. That's the second game in a row with too many penalties. It's going to cost us games if we keep taking that route.
On freshman forward Daultan Leveille's play...
(The way he plays) is not lucky. Good players arrive at the right time, and he does with that great speed of his. That's why losing (sophomore forward Andrew) Rowe today could really hurt us, because that's a really good line, very dangerous. Daultan does that - he's going to score for us, he's always scored, and he's just slowly gaining some confidence and making the adjustment. He's going to be a fun player for us.
On senior goaltender Jeff Lerg breaking the all-time school saves record...
I think it's great. Sometimes when they have too many saves it's not good, but he's done it while winning, and that's the great part. That's a real tribute to him. And it's not that he's had 50 shots a night either. He's just such a magical goalie. It was a relatively, not easy night, but when he had to make a big save, he was there. He made a couple leg saves and toe saves, just vintage Jeff Lerg. We're very fortunate to have him.
On preparing for Saturday's game at WMU...
I don't think their team will be different. The atmosphere will be tough. It's a hall of fame night, and it will be a black out supposedly, so it'll be good for our kids to have to survive in that.
Michigan State Center Daultan Leveille
On his confidence tonight...
Well, again, that first one last week really helps get that confidence up. Having some key players out of the lineup, I knew that I would have to personally step it up, and produce offensively because we need that. I was playing with some great wingers, and lines were getting mixed up. You had to do whatever you could to score those goals and it worked out in the end.
On waiting for the puck before his first goal...
I was waiting there just trying to call for the puck, hoping it would get through. Last second, when there were two guys in front of me and you can't really see it get through, (Brock Shelgren) gets it through. I was kind of relieved that it hit my stick and went in. I was happy with that. You are sitting there, thinking just please get through. You know you have that open net, and you are just waiting there back door. (Brock Shelgren) made a great pass in the end, so it really worked out.
On the team energy going into intermission...
It was a great feeling because you know those games are always close, and we knew that they would come out really strong against us. Being ahead really gave us that confidence boost, and we knew that we just had to play more defensive. We could still try to produce offensively, but we knew we could sit back a little more, and just play more our game.
On his second goal...
We had the one goal lead and you really don't need that offense, but it's always good to get that insurance goal. A couple good bounces work out, and (Dustin) Gazely made a really good pass. (Dustin Gazely) fumbled on it originally and he saw me go to the net, and made a good pass to me and I just tipped it through.
Michigan State Goaltender Jeff Lerg
On the offense tonight...
Once we got that third goal, it was a good feeling. Daulton (Leveille) is a smart player, he's always around the puck and knows where to go. He has good speed and is smart in the offensive zone so he finds himself in good spots - it's good to see him score a couple.
On the play of the freshman tonight...
It was good to see. We knew we had some holes to fill and those guys are really stepping up and making the best of their opportunities. Like I said before, we've been working really hard on creating more offense in practice. They've done a good job of getting their confidence up at home but, now we are going on the road for a bit so, hopefully, they can withstand the road and play well.
On Tim Crowder's play...
I thought he played well. He has been big on our penalty kill, I think he has been really solid there. He's really working hard this year, up and down the ice. He's got a couple of goals and he's played really well this year.
On the importance of winning close games with a young team...
It is good that every game we have had has been a close game. We've seen what we've had to do to get the job done. Younger guys have been out there in crucial situations and had the chance to block shots or get the puck deep.
On setting the MSU all-time saves record...
It's a great accomplishment to have. Like I said when I came here I never expected to be the captain or the all-time saves leader - it's just a great feeling for me and I can't thank the coaches enough for giving me the opportunity to play as much as I have. Great thanks to the coaches and all the great teammates I've had here. Like any award you get, it is all around the team around you.
Western Michigan Head Coach Jim Culhane
Overall impressions...
I thought it was a well-played game by both teams. It was a one-goal game going into the third period, that young guy (Daultan) Leveille got the second and third goals and Jeff Lerg played a great game.
On coming up short in a tough game...
Well it definitely hurts. Like I said, I thought that both teams played very well. When you get a loss like this it stings. But right now we've got a short rest and we've got to get ready for tomorrow night.
On having past success against Michigan State...
We just try to be consistent. That's what I told our guys this week, regardless of who we are playing we need to be ready. We had a good week of practice and a good week of preparation. We were able to hold their power play without a goal and we were able to get one on the power play so from a special teams standpoint it was good, but in the end they were able to get three five-on-five goals.
