Postgame Quotes
Wisconsin vs. Ohio State
March 11, 2017
Madison, Wis. -- Kohl Center

Head Coach Tony Granato
On being able to push forward after last night's loss:
"The effort was there. I wouldn't question our effort yesterday either. I question the fact that we came out a little bit, waiting to see what was going to happen instead of trying to dictate how the game's going to be played. So, I'll never say anything about our guys' effort. I think our effort has been good all year. I think tonight was a night where whenever we got our chances, the other team was desperate on making sure they blocked shots similar to the way we did against Minnesota a couple weeks back. We created things and it looked like we had more than we did because we only did get 28 shots on net, but I can guarantee they blocked a ton of them so credit to them. We kept fighting. Back-to-back nights in key situations when we thought we were back in the game with a goal that got disallowed, but we didn't stop. We worked to the last second of the buzzer and I think that's what we've done all year. So, we were in a much better position two days ago, but the position we're in now, we have an opportunity to go to Michigan as a second seed in the Big Ten and win a couple hockey games, and hopefully we're playing the week after."

On if the team could have done better at getting pucks in the net:
"Well, they blocked in layers, so even if we beat the first shot blocker, they didn't tie up at the net, their defense was loose in coverage and found ways to be that second layer shot blocker, so I think we maybe could have got the puck down below the goal line a little bit quicker when we need to get to the top and start over, but we played as hard as we could and just came up short tonight."

On how big goalie Matt Tomkins was to the Buckeyes this weekend:
"Very solid. He was solid all weekend and especially against our power play when we did get quality chances and he got some big saves for them, so not a whole lot of rebounds. That was the one thing we thought we could get pucks and his feet more and work to get some rebound chances, but he controlled them pretty well and like I said, their defense collapsed and tied down low at clearing pucks and blocking shots down there as well."

On if the team is running out of gas or short on energy this point:
"No, no. I mean we played hard. That team was big and physical. It was a physical battle out there. They took advantage of a call earlier in the game to get the lead again. That is ever so important in college hockey and again, we had to play catch-up and didn't have enough chances to be able to do that."

On having it be anyone's game next with OSU, PSU and Wisconsin on the NCAA bubble:
"Well it is. Like I said, again I think the position we were in a couple days ago was much more comforting than it is right now, but we have an opportunity to go there as a number two seed, we got the bye in the first series of games. We'll have to play our best hockey of the year this weekend and win two games and be ready to advance."

On if he was pleased with Dan Labosky's performance tonight:
"He played well, he played hard. He got a lot of ice time and I thought he created a lot offensively for us. Had good energy and really did play a good game."

 On how he's judging our team's desperation level this season compared to opponents:
"It's new for us. We've been talking about it a lot this year. We've put ourselves in a really good position with how well we've done, but it's still learning process for our team. Like I said, I thought yesterday's game started the series coming out kind of waiting to see how this series was going to go and how the game was going to be played, was something that part of the process of trying to get better. I think that was a really big reason that Ohio State kept momentum in the series and were able to hold through."

Forward Luke Kunin
On the mood in the locker room after two tough losses:
"I mean obviously it's disappointing. It's not the way we wanted the weekend to go, but our group's bounced back all year and we've had a lot of ups and downs but I believe in this group and what we can accomplish. I think we're going to have a good week in practice and we're going to go to Detroit ready to win two games and that's where our minds are at right now and that's what we're going to focus on."

On the team's desperation: 
"I wouldn't say we're desperate. I think we're a hungry group of guys who hate to lose more than we love to win. I've said that numerous times this year and I truly believe it. We're mad in the locker room when we don't get the results we want and that's what you need with championship winning teams and I think that's what we are."

Forward Ryan Wagner
On responding to playing to keep their playoff hopes alive:
"I think we're going to respond perfectly. Like Luke said, we've bounced back all year and we've all been through tough times. We'll have a good week of practice and now we know what we have to do. We have to win two games to get to the tournament and that's what we're going to do."

On responding to having lots of blocked shots:
"It's pretty tough when they're blocking a lot of shots. I think they had 20 plus shots this game. It's kind of what coach said between the second and third periods, just throw a little fake in there and if another guy comes to block it throw it off the back wall. We can't really be giving them all of those blocks like that because they build off that. We did it against Minnesota and had success so we've just have to learn from it and move forward."