2003-04 IHM at Nebraska-Omaha -- Quotes
12/12/2003 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On the keys to the game ... "I think we were fortunate to score the first goal of the game. That was important. (Al) Montoya had to keep us in the game. They had point-blank chances in the first period and on another night those are going to go in. I though he was a big factor in the game."
On goaltender Al Montoya's play ... "He was very involved. He had to be because there was so much play in our zone. It was a game where you needed a goalie to make a difference and he did that. Then we had a couple shots where we got fortunate and scored. You wouldn't think that the second goal would be the winning goal, but that's the way it is now: we're not seeing a lot of goals scored."
On the third-period defense ... "I can't tell you we carried the play in the third period. There were a couple of chances that just missed the net in the third period that weren't counted as shots but they were good scoring chances. We carried the play part of the period but then we were on our heels part of the period. They threw everything at us and we were playing defense. We were playing with the lead, so we were playing defensive hockey."
Freshman Forward Mike Brown
On getting the win ... "We know that if we get four points this weekend we'll be one point behind first place. We just went all out and put everything on the line."
On his goal in the first period ... "I saw a little opening on the right side, so I tried to sneak it in there and it went in. I was pretty happy. I tried to keep quiet so he (Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Chris Holt) didn't know it was coming and (Eric) Nystrom got it over to me on my tape so I could just put it in there."
On the team's defensive stand in the third period ... "We played a hell of a third period. We won the game in the third period. We played a good first, they won the second and we came strong in the third."
On his play on the road ... "Coach Berenson always says to take the body because it's a checking game on the road. You have to take the body to get them off their focus. That's my style of game, so when I go out there and play the body it creates openings. I just work as hard as I can to put the puck in the net."
Freshman Forward T.J. Hensick
On the third period ... "We showed a little bit of grit, I guess. That third period was our best period of the game. We had to build on something. We came out strong in the third period and had to set the tone. We knew we had to come out with a little grit; we've been missing that the past few weekends. We felt we had that tonight, throwing the body around and trying to get shots on net."
On the power play's current drought ... "I thought our power play was pretty good tonight. We had some shots. We had some scoring chances and (Brandon) Kaleniecki had some back-door opportunities. We've been getting some point shots and that's the main thing we need. That's where the power play starts. You get those shots on net and their box is going to collapse and things are going to open up for us."
On the keys to the game ... "I think we were fortunate to score the first goal of the game. That was important. (Al) Montoya had to keep us in the game. They had point-blank chances in the first period and on another night those are going to go in. I though he was a big factor in the game."
On goaltender Al Montoya's play ... "He was very involved. He had to be because there was so much play in our zone. It was a game where you needed a goalie to make a difference and he did that. Then we had a couple shots where we got fortunate and scored. You wouldn't think that the second goal would be the winning goal, but that's the way it is now: we're not seeing a lot of goals scored."
On the third-period defense ... "I can't tell you we carried the play in the third period. There were a couple of chances that just missed the net in the third period that weren't counted as shots but they were good scoring chances. We carried the play part of the period but then we were on our heels part of the period. They threw everything at us and we were playing defense. We were playing with the lead, so we were playing defensive hockey."
Freshman Forward Mike Brown
On getting the win ... "We know that if we get four points this weekend we'll be one point behind first place. We just went all out and put everything on the line."
On his goal in the first period ... "I saw a little opening on the right side, so I tried to sneak it in there and it went in. I was pretty happy. I tried to keep quiet so he (Nebraska-Omaha goaltender Chris Holt) didn't know it was coming and (Eric) Nystrom got it over to me on my tape so I could just put it in there."
On the team's defensive stand in the third period ... "We played a hell of a third period. We won the game in the third period. We played a good first, they won the second and we came strong in the third."
On his play on the road ... "Coach Berenson always says to take the body because it's a checking game on the road. You have to take the body to get them off their focus. That's my style of game, so when I go out there and play the body it creates openings. I just work as hard as I can to put the puck in the net."
Freshman Forward T.J. Hensick
On the third period ... "We showed a little bit of grit, I guess. That third period was our best period of the game. We had to build on something. We came out strong in the third period and had to set the tone. We knew we had to come out with a little grit; we've been missing that the past few weekends. We felt we had that tonight, throwing the body around and trying to get shots on net."
On the power play's current drought ... "I thought our power play was pretty good tonight. We had some shots. We had some scoring chances and (Brandon) Kaleniecki had some back-door opportunities. We've been getting some point shots and that's the main thing we need. That's where the power play starts. You get those shots on net and their box is going to collapse and things are going to open up for us."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, April 08
Sunday, March 29
Friday, March 27
Tuesday, March 24
