Postgame Quotes: Michigan 4, #9 Minnesota 3 (OT)
1/9/2015 12:00:00 AM | Ice Hockey
Jan. 9, 2015
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Michigan Head Coach Red Berenson
On his team's comeback win ... "I give our team credit. We haven't had a situation like that for a while where we had a five-minute major with the lead, then they tie the game and go ahead with not too much time left in the game, six or seven minutes left. (Justin) Selman's goal was a huge goal obviously to answer and get the game tied again and send it to overtime. I liked the momentum we had in the game, I liked our resilience, and I think our team took a step in the right direction. Let's face it, Minnesota was the better team in the first period, especially their power play. It's the real deal. We have to stay out of the penalty box."
On his team's performance over the past couple weeks ... "The GLI was a good thing for our team, a good confidence builder. It was good for a lot of our guys to step up and show what they can do to help the team. I thought the GLI was a real good character builder for our team. You saw a glimpse of that tonight."
On his message to the team after Minnesota's third-period, power-play goals ... "Well we just told them we have to kill the rest of the penalty, get one back, and now it's our turn. Sure enough, we got one. You never know. I don't know if we scored on our best chance, you know (Zach) Werenski hit the post, JT (Compher) hit the post, their goalie made a couple of big saves and a couple of bouncing pucks. It was a close game either way."
On his players returning the junior national team ... "JT Compher was dialed in, really good. Tyler (Motte) had moments that were really good, really strong. You saw (Zach) Werenski and Dylan (Larkin) never miss a beat. I thought they were all really good performers tonight."
U-M Freshman Defenseman Cutler Martin
On his game-winning goal ... "The forwards were working hard down low, we had a lot of pressure on them. I know their goalie was kind of confused; I don't think he could see the puck. He didn't really know where it was. (Dylan) Larkin threw the puck out to me, and their Minnesota forward came out to block the puck and had a little gap in his legs, and I tried to shoot it through, and it ended up going in."
On if he saw the goal go in ... "I had no idea. I got lucky or something, but I was just so happy that our team won. If it's me or one of the players, I would be just as happy just because we won that hockey game, anybody who scored it. Our team deserved it, and everybody earned it together."
On tonight's game-winner comparing to first career goal ... "This one was pretty special, growing up you always hear, 'Minnesota is this, Minnesota is that.' We're from Michigan, so we think Michigan is pretty good right? I was really happy to beat Minnesota. It's one of those teams on your bucket list each year to beat. In the Big Ten rankings, it's going to be tight between us and them I think. If we keep it up, and we can refocus and win again tomorrow, I think that gives us a great chance to move forward."
U-M Senior Forward Zach Hyman
On adjustments after first period ... "(Coach Berenson) said we had to be better. He said we had to be a better team. We knew Minnesota was a good hockey team, but we knew that we could keep up with them as long as we played hard, and I think that after the first period we showed that we could, and we did, and we ended up winning because of that."
On staying focused for tomorrow night ... "It's a quick turnaround, since we play at 4 (p.m.) tomorrow. We're right back at it, and we have to put today's game behind us. We can be happy for the next couple hours, but once we go to bed, it's game day once again. They're a really good team so I know they are going to want to come back and get us. We have a chance to have a really good weekend, and that's what we are going to try to do."
On his effort play to set up Justin Selman's game-tying goal ... "Zach (Werenski) made an unbelievable play. Werenski was coming back, and I thought that (Minnesota's Travis) Boyd had a couple steps on him, and he was able to back check and get his stick on him. That was huge, because if they scored there, the game is pretty much over. He made that play, and then I don't know how I got the puck, but I luckily got the puck, and I just wanted to take it wide on their D, and I did that, and I wanted to throw it out in front, and I was hoping somebody was there. Luckily, Justin (Selman) was driving in hard, and it's something that he does all the time, so he put that in. I didn't even see the goal because I was falling into the boards, but I was pretty happy. It's pretty cool, because I turned my head, and I see the ref pointing, and I see Justin celebrating, and I was like 'Whoa, it went in.' It's a little bit of a hope play to throw it to him, but I knew somebody would be there."
U-M Freshman Forward Dylan Larkin
On the transition post-World Juniors ... "(It's) not much [different]. It's good to be back, with Zach (Hyman) and players like him, and all the guys were really working hard so it was a fast-paced game like what I was used to. Just the way we battled, it was fun to be back."
On playing with Hyman ... "If you look at the stats here, one goal, three assists, six shots. You can tell he's stepping up and taking our team to the next level. It's fun to watch, and he is fun to play with."
