March 13, 2010

Recap |  Box Score

Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves

On the game overall: "It was the type of game that we really expected. We got off to a decent start, getting the lead. We killed a 5-on-3 and then they get an unfortunate bounce by having the puck go off of us and get into the net. First of all Goody (Scott Gudmandson) had a great glove save lying on his back and then we gave up a second goal and we were paddling. We were doing a dog paddle and then during the TV timeout we talked to our guys and we said we knew this was going to happen. They are fighting for their lives and they are giving us everything that we can handle right now. We need to just settle in and do what we can and our response was getting two power-play goals. The power-play unit, which we have been struggling on, we came out and had a couple of big goals. It settled us down and we came back again and then I think we chose the right attitude going out into the third period. We were playing on our toes. (We were) keeping after them and with that being said we got a couple of big goals from Bendy (Aaron Bendickson)."

On goaltender Scott Gudmandson's overall performance: "A goaltender, one of the things you ask them to do is to stop the ones that they should and maybe 2-out-of-4 that they shouldn't and he did that tonight. He did that to a T. The second goal we would have liked to get back... You don't win much without goaltending and he was a solid force tonight, especially in key moments."

On Wisconsin's offensive progression on the power play: "We talked to Derek. He said, `I was fighting the puck.' He was trying to make those perfect passes instead of playing. By getting those goals really settled them down. And we started to look like the unit that we have come to know."

On Craig Smith's overall play: "The thing about Smitty (Smith) is that he surprises you with his speed and he gets the pucks and because of the speed, he's taking it to another level.  That's one of the reasons why Craig is feeling very confident in himself and his game at this time. The last couple of weeks he seems comfortable with what he's trying to do and what he's able to do. I think it's stemming from the inside out and as a result we are seeing a guy that is with great jump and confidence. He is being productive and that starts with him being comfortable with the way his game is forming.

Wisconsin player quotes

Sophomore Derek Stepan
On when the score was tied at 2-2: "Just as a team, it was a turning (point). There was a point where we were up 2-1 and they made it 2-2 it was something that we needed to respond to and we needed to grow as a team. I think it was more of a team thing and growing up as a team."

On his power play goal: "(The) defensemen stepped up and the defensemen had a pretty poor gap. I thought that I would just throw it on net and see what happens. We were having a hard time getting it set up and we tried to score on the rush. We always try to score on the rush anyways."

Senior Aaron Bendickson
On Coach Eaves complimenting Bendickson's play: "I'm not a spotlight guy at all. I do what I'm supposed to do and I try to make simple plays and some nights you get a couple of goals and so be it I guess. It's all a team effort."

On sweeping Alaska: "This is the good stuff. This is the good stuff to get the ball rolling for playoffs. We just have to continue to play hard and play simple and get ourselves ready for next weekend."

On his last game at the Kohl Center: "I got a little chill actually. It has kind of flown by for all of us. We have been a tight group too. It's kind of sad because this place is awesome. We have the best fans around. We play all over and I don't think that anything compares to what we have here. I definitely looked around at the end of the game and thought, `it's going to be tough not playing here anymore,' but we had to get out of here with a couple of wins and that's what happened."

Senior Blake Geoffrion
On Scott Gudmandson's play: "Goody (Gudmandson) made some huge saves and definitely (caused some) momentum changes. He was really confident on the save. He was very confident and that's why he played as well as he did. It is a great time for him to start playing as good as he is and I'm hoping he can carry us deep into the playoffs."