Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Northern Michigan 
Nov. 4, 2016
Kohl Center – Madison, Wis.

Head Coach Tony Granato
On the team playing rougher later in the game:
"I think in a game like that, you are frustrated. I think we expected a little bit better for us, their team came in hungry. They made the most of their chances, especially in the first period. They basically scored on their first two scoring chances. We did a lot of things to get shots, I think we could have battled harder and paid a bigger price at their net for rebounds and second chances. That's where we'll have to be better tomorrow night."
 
On Jack Berry's performance:
"It's been the same every time he's come in for us. He's been really solid, he kept us in the game. He gave us a chance to come back. Their goalie made some big saves there when we were down to keep the lead what it was. We hit the post there a couple times in the third that could have given us a little better chance, but Berry was really solid."
 
On a potential goaltender battle:
"He'll play (Berry), we're going to make a decision of whether or not he'll start, there's a good chance he'll start tomorrow. He's calm in the net, he's comfortable there. That's not an easy situation to come into because you give up another goal and the game's over. He's done it twice for us against good teams and he gave us that chance."
 
On what changed in the team's play from last week:
"I'll tell you what changed, Northern Michigan came in here as a team that was on a mission to get their season jump started. They had gone through a little bit of a struggle. They score on their first shot, we're chasing it. We couldn't capitalize on our chances, we had some power play chances at pivotal points in the game and we could have gotten back in the game and didn't. Obviously the Frederic goal was an individual effort, that was a power play goal, but there were other opportunities for us to get back in the game and we just weren't as sharp. 
"I don't think our play away from the puck when we had it was as good as it was last week. We traveled in groups of five last week, tonight we were spread out a little bit and the support wasn't quite there. We had our chances, we had our scoring chances but I think the second chances and the rebound chances like the goals we scored last Friday night, we had four rebound goals in that game. Tonight we had a couple whacks at it but I think we can do a better job there."
 
On counteracting an opponent's goaltender playing well:
"More pucks to the net, more traffic. That's what you say all the time. I thought early in the game, we could have been more aggressive, gotten pucks in. I thought we positioned ourselves there, we had good net-front presence. There were a couple chances we had to deliver the puck there and we make the extra pass, which ended up coming our way."
 
On NMU head coach Walt Kyle saying Wisconsin "deserved better":
"He's looking at the shots on goal and he's looking at the fact that they scored two goals on the second shot on net, which was 15 minutes into the game and it put them up. I think they were opportunistic that way, to take control of the game. I thought they battled really hard to protect their net front, I thought they made it hard on us and I thought they did a good job in the neutral zone. I thought they played a good road game, that's what you want to do. You want to get a lead and you want to protect it by being solid and making the other team pay a price all over the ice. I thought they did that."
 
On the Kunin-Besse-Hughes line:
"First two shots go in the net, so that's part of it, you can't over analyze when you see a plus/minus like this one. They can be better, for sure, they can create more. I didn't think they were that sharp on the power play tonight. They can be better."
 
On Matt Jurusik:
"I think Matt is a resilient kid, I think he's been through a lot. He went through a lot last year as far as growing pains go. He's a good goaltender and he's going to play for us and win games for us. So you can't get down on him or worry about him. That's his job as a goalie tog et ready for his next performance. Everybody has to deal with conflicts, forward, defenseman or goalie. It's part of being a hockey player and I'm sure he'll work with it and work with Sanger on getting his game back together and he'll get in there soon."
 
On Grant Besse:
"Bruised up, for sure. I didn't get a chance to go see him after, I came right down here. I don't know what his status will be for tomorrow, obviously he didn't return to the game. I would say we'll find out more when I get back there, obviously he hit the boards hard and that's a scary part of the ice. You're going into the net and you're off balances and you get bumped, there's not a whole lot of a chance to recover. So hopefully it's not too bad."

Luke Kunin
On scoring chances against Northern Michigan's goalie:
"He played well, their whole team played well tonight. I thought our first and second (periods) weren't the sharpest as they could've been but we just have to get more pucks and tries than that, and eventually they are going to go in. I thought we created some good chances but it's obviously tough not to see those go in."

On struggling defensively:
"I mean you watched the game so you saw it. That's that."

On talking to the team after the game:
"We all know what we need to do. We're winners in there and this doesn't sit well with us. Coach came in and talked to us and we have to come out and do better tomorrow, and that's what we are going to do."


Seamus Malone
On what changed from last weekend:
I think our start was not what it needed to be, the first half of game we didn't play our game, we didn't battle like we needed to, and they took advantage. In front of the nets you could tell that we didn't bear down and score our chances and they did."

On the transition play:
"I thought it was pretty good, defensively we didn't get back hard enough. There were multiple plays where the forwards tried to bump over and didn't get back to help the defense out and they got some scoring chances out of it."


Matt Jurusik
On having confidence:
"Confidence is fine, just having to start the game, coming out, starting, playing the game I know how to play, right off the bat, it's been a big key for me this year. This year I'm figuring that out, getting settled in, but I'm fine. I know it happens but next time I get the net I'll be better."