Postgame Quotes: #4 Michigan 3, Niagara 2
10/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Oct. 22, 2009
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game ... "Well, we knew it would be a tough game even though we got off to what you might call a false start with those two power-play goals. You knew Niagara wasn't going to go away and they didn't and they stayed in the game. They had pressure on us all night. There wasn't much of a difference between the two teams. Their penalty kill was good. Our power play was not good as the game progressed and then it was anyone's game. I thought [Bryan] Hogan was the difference at one point and yet we had a couple good chances, too. I think [David] Wohlberg hit the post, [Louie] Caporusso missed a breakaway, and Scooter Vaughan missed the net. You have those subtle chances here and there, but they had some great chances, too. It was a good hard fought hockey game. As a coach I'm not happy. I think our team has to play better than that. Certainly we knew we might be a little rusty, but we just didn't get better as the game went on."
On if the two-week layoff between games had an effect ... "Give [Niagara] credit, they were in game shape and looked like it. We didn't make great decisions with the puck. We got a little too cute and turned it over way too much. We know we're playing a better team on Saturday so when we're looking at the game we know we can't take this game and play in Boston or we'll be in big trouble."
On playing Saturday at Boston University ... "I think we'll play a lot better in our next game, I really do. I think that this game was a measurement of where we are. We all know we can play better. I think that we needed this game. We can practice so long, but it's so much different and quicker and more physical in a game. I think this will help us in Saturday's game."
U-M Junior Forward Carl Hagelin
On tonight's game ... "We started to play too hard. We didn't do the easy stuff. We tried to take guys one-on-one and make passes behind our net. You aren't going to win games playing like that. We got lucky tonight and [Bryan] Hogan helped us out a lot."
On the power play ... "We have three lines rolling and they're doing a good job of getting a cycle going and pucks in the net. Obviously in the beginning of the game they were more efficient. They kind of went down at the end of the game. We need to be good throughout the whole game."
On the penalty kill ... "We have a lot of depth from last year on the penalty kill -- that helps a lot. The new freshmen are doing a good job. Being 100 percent is hard, but if we continue to do what we're doing we're happy."
U-M Junior Goaltender Bryan Hogan
On his game tonight ... "We haven't played in two weeks. Every game I might fight it at the beginning but that happens and these guys bail me out. You just have to play like it's a 0-0 game and not worry about the score."
On Niagara's 34 shots on net ... "I like playing in these games more. It keeps you in it, you're always in it. In a 15- or 18-shot game it's hard to come up with a big save because mentally it's tough to focus on the puck coming down from the other end. But over the years I have gotten used to it."
