Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Michigan
Feb. 18, 2017
Madison, Wis. -- Kohl Center

UW Head Coach Tony Granato
On Aidan Cavallini playing on the second line:
"He got two, didn't he?

"He's been a workhorse for us all year, his role has become more important as we've gone along. I think it's just his consistency, how he's played has put us in a position where we want him on the ice. We thought putting him in that spot tonight would be a chance to play him more.

"The guys love him. From a coaching perspective, he's reliable every shift. We know what we're going to get out of him, and obviously he contributed in a big way tonight. He had a few other great chances as well, he made some great plays below the goal line. I think he wore their D down on the forecheck, he was on the hunt all night long on the forecheck. He was a definite impact player on the game tonight."

On Luke Kunin making several blocks and support plays:
"I'm glad you see that because there's no stats on the stat sheet that says the time of the game or the situation that we're in. But he's done it all year for us, he did it in the world junior championships and got a gold medal for his team there. That's a great example for how our team is supposed to play.

"He got an assist tonight, didn't get on the scoresheet as far as scoring a goal, but those blocks were as big as scoring a goal. Late in the game on that penalty kill there when we got the short-handed goal, that was a big play that he made leading up to that goal. Glad you noticed that."

On the chances created tonight:
"We were effective on our scoring chances and I think we had a lot more chances than it looks like on the shot total. I thought second period we had some great chances when we could have pulled away a little bit. I thought their goalie made some really big saves but there are a lot of games in here earlier in the year when we got 35 or 40, 50 shots in a game and we didn't score five or six goals. 

"We made plays when we had to make them, when the game was on the line. You saw our defense be really active, I thought we made that hard on Michigan. How they backchecked, we made it hard on their forwards with our D driving the play in the third period and we were able to create some on the rush with the active D. Obviously two defensemen got goals for us, so it was a big third period. We made the plays when we had to."

On the penalty kill:
"Specialty teams are always important. It's more of a confidence thing, as far as it carries over when you have a big kill, it carries momentum for your team after the kill. Your goaltender has to be your best penalty killer for you to be successful. Our goalies have been really solid for us all year when we're down a man. I thought that 4-on-3 kill, that was huge. I thought that short-handed goal was a big factor in the game, too. Michigan started to take the game over a little bit there in the first and we ended up getting a big kill and the short-handed goal to tie it. That's just work. That's what has been a big part of our success so far this year."

On Trent Frederic's success on the penalty kill:
"He reads it well, he's a brilliant hockey player as far as recognizing opportunities where a player is vulnerable to turn the puck over. Luke is too, Luke had a scoring chance last night shorthanded. It seems like every time Luke and Freddy are on the ice, they're a threat offensively which puts a lot of pressure on the power-play unit. Big short-handed goal there, they've been great. The shot blocking is huge.

"I thought (Ryan Wagner) played an outstanding game, especially on the PK. Cameron Hughes was great out on the PK as well. Our killers have done a nice job."

On Matt Jurusik making big saves late in the game:
"It was one of those games, it was weird the way the bounces were going around the net. The one that floated in, I think their guy got a piece of it, but it was a floater through. Jurusik was looking through traffic and it floats in. He looked square, it looked like he was confident and he made some big saves when he had to."

On facing Minnesota next weekend:
"I think we have challenges we've had all year, but I think we've stepped up and handled them well to give us this opportunity. It's all you can ask late in the season is that you have games that are meaningful. These games are meaningful because we've done things right to put ourselves in this position. So we should feel good about our team. We also know that if you come this far, it doesn't do any good to be satisfied with just getting this close.

"Next week will be a challenge. We had two great games against Minnesota there a few weeks back. We know the skill that they have, we know we'll have to be at our best. Minnesota and Wisconsin, doesn't matter what the records are, but now you see that one-two in the (Big Ten Conference) standings, it's only going to be that much more meaningful and exciting."

 
Forward Trent Frederic
On what makes the penalty kill effective:
"I think it's the video we do before. Kind of getting an idea of what the other team is going to do and I guess we've been executing lately. It's good to get rewarded."
 
On if he's ever scored eight seconds into a game:
"Never, no I don't think so."
 
On scoring four goals this weekend and what was working for him:
"I think the puck was coming to me and guys were making nice plays and I just happened to be there. It was a good weekend and good to get two wins."
 
On his chemistry with Kunin:
"Little stuff like that with a blocked shot and I get the opportunity like that or the pass like last night, he's obviously great to play with. The first goal,he made a nice play to just get the puck on the net and Ustaski made a nice play to me and it just happened to go in. My line, I thought it was good playing with them and it was a good weekend."
 

Defenseman Peter Tischke
On scoring the game sealing goal and finally putting Michigan away:
"Obviously they're a good team, they're hard and they never give up. After they came back after the fourth goal and we got a fifth one, we just realized we had to bear down and finish the game."
 

Forward Aidan Cavallini
On how it was getting to play with Besse and Malone on the second line:
"It was a lot of fun. I just approached the game like any other game and tried not to worry too much that I was on the second line. But it was a lot of fun."
 
On being in the right place at the right time to score goals:
"Yeah I think so. On the first goal I just finished a hit and I see Hughes go to the net and I just went to the net and the puck bounced right to my stick. Same with the second one. I think it hit the boards funny and it came out in front."
 
On getting his first goals in the Kohl Center with his career winding down:
"Yeah I think it's pretty cool. People say to play every game like your last and I think now that's actually starting to hit me hard because when you're younger you don't think about it. It's definitely pretty special but I just really care about winning and having a good finish to this year."