Wisconsin Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
October 7, 2016
LaBahn Arena - Madison, Wis.

UW Head Coach Mark Johnson
On the team's difficulty connecting passes at first:
"As you watched the game, there wasn't a lot of five-on-five play and that creates a difficult scenario for lots of reasons as far as line matchups and as far as getting into a rhythm or getting into a kind of flow. The first four or five minutes were pretty good, Clarky scored but then we took three-straight penalties. So you take all of that momentum away from us and that gave them an opportunity. Then it reversed, they took three-straight penalties. You look at the first period, there wasn't a lot of five-on-five. The second was very similar and a lot of the third was very similar. It was an interesting hockey game for a lot of reasons. Hopefully tomorrow it won't go the same way."
 
On the game's 16 penalties:
"The NCAA wants to do some new things on the men's side and unfortunately we have the same rulebook as the men and you saw what they're trying to do."
 
On the power play:
"Well for most of the power plays we created a bunch (of opportunities). Even during the last couple, Emily had a great chance, Sarah had a wonderful opportunity. So yeah, the puck didn't go in on the power play but for the early part of the season, we haven't played for a couple weeks. We've only played two games, I thought the movement was pretty good and their goaltender overall played really well for them. If we're not getting chances when the opportunities are there, then you have to be concerned. We made a couple adjustments and for the most part, other than not scoring, it worked pretty good."
 
On the game overall:
"It was good, they were excited to play. it's been emotional here for a lot of reasons, but the important thing is we came out and Emily scored right away. 
 
"That's the great thing, you have to play the game, you never know what's going to transpire. Certain things get involved and it changes the complex of the game and I particularly dislike those but that's why we play. I thought the players did a nice job, we did a nice job of killing penalties. I thought Ann-Renee, in the second period when she got tested, was focused in and was tracking the puck really well, and in the third period she didn't get a lot of tests.
 
"I think that not having played for two weeks, and a lot of things that went on, I thought that for the most part, especially five on five, we were pretty good. Hopefully tomorrow the game is more five-on-five than what we saw today."
 
On Ann-Renee Desbiens' shutout record:
"She had a couple tests this week, but she had really good strong practices Tuesday and Wednesday. If you watched her in the second period when Ohio State had multiple power-plays and were putting the puck around the crease and the goal area, she's focused in and was tracking the puck real well. Give her a lot of credit for her ability to stay in attention and pay attention to details. 
 
"They came in clumps; they had three straight power plays and there were a lot of shots in that clump, and then you go for a period when you aren't getting a lot, and then here comes another clump of penalties. Those games are a little bit more challenging for a goaltender, she earned it tonight."


Junior Forward Emily Clark
On her performance tonight:
"I'm very happy with how I played and very confident after that game, but I mean as a team everyone was contributing. I think after last weekend we really just settled down and set into our game."
 
On playing through lots of penalties:
"It's definitely hard to get into a flow when you're not playing five-on-five for more than a minute or two at a time. I think especially after the first period to get some time to talk with coach and the team and get settled down and know that they are going to call everything, just to play a little bit smarter."
 
On how to make passing connections cleaner tomorrow:
"I think it's still really early in the year so we're all kind of feeling each other out. I think just settling down the game. Obviously with how many fans we get and big excitement, it's easy to be jittery and hold onto your stick a little too tight but it helps to just take a deep breath and get the first shift out of the way."
 
On being a key contributor tonight:
"It's a pretty special feeling to have some offense early in the year but Annie had an incredible pass on the first one and made an incredible pass the shift after to put it by the net. I am very fortunate to play with a lot of good players. It seems like our chemistry is working really well."
 
On opening up the home season after a tough week and a bye:
"Definitely after the week and after the bye week there was definitely a lot of excitement especially being the first home game and having the freshman be able to experience that for the first time was pretty cool."

 
Senior Goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens
On her thoughts of earning another milestone at Wisconsin:
"I think it's pretty awesome to be able to do it at home home in front of fans. I know I was looking forward to seeing a lot of them again, it's been awhile, so just being able to share the moment with them is a good feeling."
 
On what it's like to have her team in front of her:
"I think we saw it today. They blocked a couple shots, I know it hurt. We saw it on the other team too, they blocked shots. It's not always fun for them but they do it for you and I think it's always a nice feeling knowing they have your back and they care so much about you that they are willing to sacrifice themselves for that. I know in the locker room, it's pretty fun right now. When we came back we were all celebrating together. As you mentioned, it's a team achievement and yes, it's going to be my name on the record but everyone that is around knows that it's not only me."
 
On how it feels to have the record out of the way:
"I wouldn't say it's a relief, I mean I feel like it's not something I strive for. I know I love getting shutout because at the end of the day it just means we won. If you don't let the puck in, of course you're going to win, so that's mostly our approach. I know if you don't let one in, you're more likely to win. But it's definitely fun getting them and I know just shows how strong the team has been over the past four years, being able to put them one after another."
 
On staying alert in goal:
"To be honest, it was the first time I've seen something like that. I wasn't sure what was happening out there. I think it was definitely a first for us to receive that many penalties but I feel like it's going to be a part of the game and I feel like it's been a trend in the NCAA this year, so I feel we are going to need to be aware and be more conscious of it. Like you said, we had three in a row, so you need to stay focused but then you have 20 minutes but I feel like after four years I've learned how to manage that better then I used to. I used to get a little excited in net like oh my god there's a puck coming but now I'm able to stay more calm and just look for things that make me feel comfortable."
 
On being aggressive with the puck:
"I really enjoy when they all go change twice in the second period and I'm just like well I'm going to go for it. I feel like my players like that too so they don't have to skate backwards all the way because I know it's a lot of energy to skate that far so I feel like with time we just learn how each other work and how we do it so it just makes it easier and easier now."