I thought we could have had four or five (goals) in the first but you don't. You let them hang around and then they took the game away in the second.
I thought that was a game we could have gone up by certainly at least two, maybe three (goals). But we couldn't get the puck in the net.
We pay attention to detail. Each and every aspect of the game - we talk about it, we practice it. I thought we struggled early, but it is another one of those areas we work at. It?s detail at this time of year that?s important.
This was an excellent hockey game. We played a tight game defensively and really have been playing the type of hockey we need to over the last month.
This was a tremendously hard-fought game. The game had great speed and intensity, and the referee decided to let the teams play. We have won a lot of close games, so this was not unusual for us.
I've never coached a player in 34 years who prepares like he prepares. To the detail, to the consistency, to how much he stresses the importance of getting himself into his game mode.
You've got to try to win a game up there. Two would be a bonus, (but) you've got to get one. They don't lose twice at home very darn often.
They're obviously a battle-tested team and we knew coming into here that they're a big-game program. Their experience I thought was a factor. They got the jump on us before we could settle down. This was a learning game for us and hopefully we can take it to the next level.
It's no secret what we have to do (to have a successful) second half. Our goal differential is about 0.2. We score 3.1 goals a game and give up 2.9. You have to have a bigger margin of goals scored and goals against.
It's a log jam and obviously every game is very important. The mindset is so important because every game is going to be tough to win.
No matter what threesome I seem to have in there, they go out and do their job. But they've had an ability this year at times to go out and turn a game our way.
It was a game that lived up to the game we all thought it would be. Those kids gave every ounce they had.
If there hadn't been an injury, they probably would have played every game together. I like the way they work off each other.
I just have so much respect for our seniors and our kids and the battle and spirit that they had. It would have been so easy for that game to turn into like a 9-2 game.