Men's Hockey March 10, 2017

Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Quotes from Granato, Berry, Besse and Kunin

Men's Hockey March 10, 2017

Postgame Quotes: Wisconsin vs. Ohio State

Quotes from Granato, Berry, Besse and Kunin

Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
March 10, 2017
Madison, Wis. -- Kohl Center

Head coach Tony Granato
Opening statement
"We were uptight to start the game. We played cautious which is different than how we've played all year. How we got here is by playing energized and confident and on the attack. Tonight, we sat on our heels and waited to see how the game was going to be played. We had a good push when we made it 3-1 and I thought we had some energy coming. I thought the start of the third period was actually outstanding. We had five-six glorious chances, missed a couple open nets where I thought if we got one of those, it would be a nice push. Then the short-handed goal that we thought we got. We came too late. We were looking for a better start. We have worked so hard to get to this position of being a team that deserves to be in the tournament. Tonight was our opportunity to solidify that and I thought we were a little nervous. Tomorrow, I'm expecting us to play a completely different. Now that the second-place position has been solidified with a loss from Penn State. Tomorrow we'll have a different mindset. Our guys have played great all year, that's why we're in second place in maybe the best conference in college hockey. We have played great teams, competed against them well, and beat them a lot of the time. We played a team tonight that is an elite team and we just weren't ready to start the game or to execute the game plan the way we wanted to. They played a solid road game, got the lead, sat back and frustrated us. From their standpoint they played well."

On getting limited opportunities in front of the net
"I thought second period we started to get some production. It seemed like offensively we were coming around. They didn't have much either, they just scored on their chances. They have some sharpshooters and they have some guys who can finish and they did. I thought defensively we did a really good job after we fell behind. Obviously they didn't open it up as much offensively,but I thought we had our chances. We have to be better to start the game. When you start the game with good energy and you're going, you get those chances and you're ready to bury them. Tonight we just didn't finish enough when we had chances to get back in the game."

On Matt Jurusik's injury
"I think he is going to be out for a while. I don't know the severity of it but it obviously didn't look good. When we took (Jack) Berry out the first time, it was more to get that break to see if we could change the momentum. They made some great shots on their goals and we didn't help Berry as well as we should have on some."

On putting Jack Berry back in the game after taking him out
"He's been solid for us all year so there is nothing to worry about there. He's answered the bell so many times. Last time Matty Jurusik got hurt, he had to play all the games and had the heavy work load. He was outstanding."

On scoring a goal that got called off for fighting
"Yes, it was deflating. I don't know if I've ever seen that – where an altercation gets the play blown dead during a clear breakaway. Especially when the altercation is started by the defending team. Usually the refs wait to see what happens and then they blow the whistle. I was a little surprised they blew the whistle but they saw it. They thought there was going to be a fight and they wanted to prevent it. But it took away a scoring chance and a goal that would have given us plenty of time to work with."

On the goal that put Ohio State up 4-1
"They jumped on the draw and got some wide speed. They crashed the net and followed up for the rebound chance. They saw a loose puck and jumped on it. Berry made a good save on it but they beat us to the rebound and were able to score."

On building off this loss for momentum tomorrow
"I think the team is going to play the best game of the year tomorrow. We've responded all year and it's the reason we're in second place in what I think is one of the best conferences in college hockey. We've been challenged at different points in the year and when we've been challenged we've responded with good performances. That's what I expect tomorrow."

Luke Kunin
On what he said to the team after the game:
"We didn't come out the way we wanted to tonight. We all know that. We know we can be better and what we need to do to be better. I believe in our group, we're going to come out and do that tomorrow."

On what the OSU defense was doing to stop them:
"I don't think we had enough energy, enough jump off the start of the game. They were hungrier on some pucks and I just think they had more energy all around. We can't come out like that."

On how the team will respond:
"Our team has done a great job all year of bouncing back and playing the right way that we know gets the job done. Playing tomorrow, it's a big game for us. Last home game of the season and last game at the Kohl for the seniors. I don't necessarily think that you forget about it, you've got to use it to fuel the fire a little. Come out hungry and with a lot of energy, and that's what we're going to do tomorrow."

On whether OSU played more physical this series:
"Yeah I think so. Both teams are trying to get net-front position and battle in front. You saw a lot of scrums after the whistle and what not but that's just hockey. Two teams that are hungry to win, that's what's going to happen. But we have to be careful and not get too many penalties."

Grant Besse
On the loss during Senior Weekend:
"Every loss, you don't feel great after. There were some conference implications in this game if we would have won, getting down near then end of the season the pairwise is a big deal. We didn't come out like we normally can and it cost us in the long run."

On what the OSU offense was doing:
"They definitely were chipping pucks out and getting in races for it. I don't think we necessarily did a bad job but they got some breaks and were able to put the puck in the net. Those breaks didn't go our way. It doesn't feel great but we'll be back after it tomorrow."

Jack Berry
On the night feeling off kilter:
"Obviously you've got to be better out there, but 10 saves on 15 shots isn't going to get the job done. The first goal was a little tip there, probably should have had it. I just came off my angle. But we'll be ready tomorrow."

On Matt Jurusik leaving the game with an injury and going back in the game after getting pulled:
"Obviously we don't know how severe it is, but I just have to be ready day in and day out.

"It was different, I've never been in that situation before. Seeing Matt go down like that, it's never a good thing. It kind of happened a few months back, wasn't good then. But you've just got to mentally prepare."

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Players Mentioned

#12 Grant Besse: F; 5' 10"; Senior; ANA

#30 Matt Jurusik: G; 6' 2"; Sophomore

#9 Luke Kunin: F; 6' 0"; Sophomore; MIN

#1 Jack Berry: G; 6' 1"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#12 Grant Besse
: 5' 10"; Senior; ANA
: F

#30 Matt Jurusik
: 6' 2"; Sophomore
: G

#9 Luke Kunin
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; MIN
: F

#1 Jack Berry
: 6' 1"; Freshman
: G

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