Postgame Quotes: Northeastern 4, #11 Michigan 1
11/25/2011 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Nov. 25, 2011
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On tonight's game ... "I think we started off strong, we were excited, we got the first goal. I thought they were older, stronger than we were, and that showed in most of the game. Still, when it came down to the goals for and against it was mistakes on our part rather than great plays on their part. (Shawn) Hunwick had to make a couple of saves just through bounces, like when a guy came out of the penalty box was all alone. The bounces were going their way, but they earned them tonight."
On overall team mistakes ... "Mistakes like if I don't pick you up when there is a loose puck in front of an empty net and they score. Then I made a big mistake and I saw some of that tonight. That is not intentional, that is just not being aware enough and not being committed enough or whatever. Defensively we know we are going through a tough time, we can't seem to score, yet the last game we got five goals. For the most part we have been fighting uphill battles and even though we have scored the first goal in the last three games we have come out on the short end one way or the other, and we did again tonight."
On what areas the team needs to improve upon ... "I think we need to play, I would say grittier. We need to play better defensively and we need to play better offensively. You can't win games when you score one goal, but you can't win games when you give up six. There is a fine line between offense and defense, but in the mean time when goals are tough to come by, you have to play that game and you have to play it like your life depends on it defensively."
U-M Senior Defenseman Greg Pateryn
On the energy of the team ... "I think we came out pretty good, but I think as the game went on everyone could probably see that we died down a little bit and that's where our struggles are right now. Everyone giving a full 60 minutes; not just 30 seconds every five minutes or so. But that's definitely what we're trying to get after right now is playing that full 60 minutes of the hockey game, not just 10 or 12 minutes out of the full game."
On defensive mistakes ... "It's positioning. It could be experience, but I think it's just doing your job. Every guy in our zone has a guy he has to cover, a guy he is responsible for, and just because there's a shot on net or a loose puck you have to watch your guy because the puck could end up on the stick and in the back of the net."
On the issue of hustling on defense ... "I wouldn't say a hustle issue, but more of a getting your nose dirty issue. Guys might not be willing to go in where it's dirty, but it's something that we're trying to work on right now."
On correcting mistakes ... "Well, you know any team could come in here and if we play our game, there's no team in the country that could beat us. That's what we're trying to find right now. It's just the little things, and that's what is separating us from where we are playing and where we need to play."
