Michigan State 1, Notre Dame 1
11/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 19, 2009
Michigan State Hockey
Michigan State Coach Rick Comley
On the game having a NCAA tournament feel...
You know it was a good game for us. That might have been the toughest team to play against for our young guys so far. Because they are veteran, they have been through tournament runs, they are older, and they are strong. Last year we could not have played with them and I thought we got better as the game went on. They took the two five-minute penalties, but again I thought we reacted well and some players struggle with the lack of space and tonight was not as free-wheeling. We are coming off a weekend of free will hockey, and then you go into tonight. So, a pretty good situation for our young team.
On getting the one point...
We had that powerplay at the end and their kid made two or three unbelievable saves or else we would have won it in regulation. Now we have had a chance in two shootouts to win it and we have two kids we are confident with. One of the challenges for everyone is to develop that third and fourth shooter. Nationally it is a tie, and lesson learned right now.
On deferring to going second in the shootout...
I don't know why. I don't even know what the statistics are. We just have to find that third shooter. They are a very good team, I would think Jeff (Jackson) would have thought they played a pretty good game.
On it being the most physical game all year...
I don't know about hits, but it was physical and it was a grind. They don't give you much room at either end of the rink, but I thought we settled the game down really well. We had a great first shift and then they came on. I think some of our guys were surprised on how physical and tough it was, but they reacted fine.
On the team dealing with not a lot of open space...
I think it was another real test for our style of play. Their quality chances decreased as the game went on and it was just a harder mental game for a lot of our kids. Hopefully, they are better Sunday because of that.
On this game helping later in the season...
I think so. I think you have to be tested against all kinds of teams. That is probably the oldest team we have played yet, and their defense is outstanding.
On Notre Dame penalty kill that was good or MSU not being able to set up on the powerplay...
You can not get pucks through and we had a couple of great chances. Petry had a great chance and just missed the net. It is a combination, I'm sure.
Michigan State Junior Forward Andrew Rowe
On tonight's tie not counting as loss, nationally...
No, but its still frustrating and disappointing.
On how they felt playing Notre Dame compared to Michigan...
They were more consistent for sure. They play very well defensively. They play almost like a trap in the neutral zone, I noticed, and it's really hard to break through that.
On how tough it was staying patient as a team compared to last weekend's series...
I don't know, we tried to stay composed. There were a couple of frustrations coming back to the bench though - pucks bouncing here and there, just not where we wanted them to go. Just stay composed and keep our heads and just stay focused on getting the puck in the corners, and then from there to the net and then in.
On his assessment of the first two periods...
The first period, we were just trying to adapt. It was a totally different team from Michigan, obviously, and trying to adapt to their speed and their defensive play. I thought we did much better in the third and we had some great chances. (Drew) Palmisano played outstanding. He held us in the first period for sure, they had some great opportunities.
On if this was the most physical team they played so far...
They are a really solid team. Their depth is great. They've got some big boys on defense.
On if he was praying his shootout goal was going to hold up in the end...
Yeah, I mean you can just hope for the best going into it. Hopefully he bites on the shot, that's all.
On Nick Sucharski's shoot out goal attempt...
(He)'s good in breakaways, no doubt about it. He loves the five hole and he gets our goalies all the time in practices with it. It didn't surprise me that he tried it but he just needed to connect there.
On if he wonders if the goalie knows his move coming into the shootout...
Considering I only did it once before in a game, I wasn't worried today but maybe from now on.
On his shootout move...
It's just the shot that gets them. The initial fake shot. If he doesn't bite, then it's pointless.
On his overall reaction to the game...
Frustration just because the opportunities were there. I would say a little disappointment with the way the season's been going and we've been so successful in situation-type games. We're just going to keep our heads up and move on. And hopefully Sunday take it to them.
On the difference from last year...
The season is going great so far. Last year, I think with this game we would be happy with it. Now we're just kind of `we should have'.
Michigan State Sophomore Goaltender Drew Palmisano
On if he had any contentions on the shootout goals...
I don't really know. I haven't really read too much of the rules but they had a couple of good moves that beat me.
On what it's like playing a team like Notre Dame after playing a team like Michigan...
Notre Dame is very disciplined. They really know how to play the body and grind you down over the course of the game. They have their style of play that really matches well with us and kind of similar to what we kind of try to do. They just went out there and you have to give them credit, they played really good tonight.
On getting the point without playing their best...
It's not bad. I mean it doesn't count as a loss in regulation for the NCAA. It definitely hurts us in the standings a little bit. We would like the win here at home especially, but we just have to shake it off because we get them again on Sunday.
