Tim Whitehead Quotes (71 Quotes)

We give the guys the freedom to make plays under pressure and sometimes it bites us.

Their top four is as good as anybody's in the country.

Special teams was very important, it always is. It's probably the only reason why we're here, getting to the Frozen Four because we've had such good special teams. So it is a bit ironic that that cost us in this game.

We've got a couple key guys who have been out and we have really fought hard to play as a team and not try to do too much. We're using our teammates a lot better.

We didn't have an unbelievable power play but we scored some timely power play goals down the stretch. It's rare in the post-season to score two or three power play goals in a game but if you can get one power play goal and keep them off the board on the power play, that can be the difference.

Northeastern has had our number in this building for several years and we were fortunate to come out with a win. This was a game that could have gone either way and the momentum swung several times, but we were able to carry it for most of the third period. We have not been the most consistent team over sixty minutes this season, but we were very focused i the third period tonight and I was impressed with that. Saturday night will be another challenge for our team.

We had lots of chances and eventually the dam broke and we ended up with a real good comeback win. We talked about not getting frustrated if didn't come easy. We didn't get off track. We stuck to the game plan.

It special teams is probably the only reason we're here, able to get to the Frozen Four. It's a bit ironic that that's what cost us tonight.

His impact on Wisconsin's program is very significant. He's had the exact same type of impact on our program. And he's been the common denominator right through (former) coach (Shawn) Walsh and myself. ... He's been successful wherever he's been, and that's not an accident. You don't get here so many times by mistake.

Like any good goalie, it becomes more difficult to make saves if you take his eyes away on screens and get to the net on second and third shots.

Tomorrow is going to be a very difficult challenge for us. We'll be ready.

The population of (Maine) is such that there are not a whole lot of kids out there to begin with. Timing is the key thing. We're fortunate that we have some real elite ones here now. Both Greg and Derek have had fabulous careers.

Anytime you have to sit some guys out, you know those guys coming in are going to play hard. I was real impressed with their team and their effort. That was a good hockey game.

I honestly think we would've tied it up. We had so much momentum, so much jump at that point. That is one of the reasons it's such an exciting game. Momentum can swing so dramatically at a moments notice.

This was a frustrating result tonight. It is hard to believe we had fifty shot on net with only one power play. We played well, but just didn't score. We have to keep our heads up and find a way to win because we have another big game on Saturday night with a lot at stake.

Each year, leaders emerge for the team, and Derek certainly emerged for us in a lot of different leadership areas. He continues to assert himself in a very positive way for his team. He has a lot of great things ahead of him in the future.

It was a good solid team effort today. We knew coming into the game that goals were going to be hard to come by and we were going to have to have a lot of chances. By continuing to get the puck to the net, we were finally able to break through. Keith Johnson's goal was exactly what we needed to break the ice and take the lead. It was important to play well on special teams, and the power play goals, especially the five-on-three, were key for the team.

What we wanted to do with our defensemen recruits was add some size and reach to protect the front of our net. And we also wanted to add some offensive punch. All three defensemen are offensive-minded. One of the reasons we were average offensively last year was because we were seventh in the league in offensive production from our defensemen.

I thought both teams defended their end well, there weren't a lot of second shots. I think that was a big difference.

It's very difficult to put a consistent run together in college hockey, and I think we're a good example of that. We've had our moments but at the same time, we're very beatable as well. I think a team like BU is a good example.

It's gonna be a dangerous weekend. On paper it looks like we're the heavy favorites but they've been playing their best hockey down the stretch.

He has been inspiring to the whole team. He never got down when he wasn't playing. He just kept working hard in practice to improve.

He has elevated his game at a time when we needed it the most.

They are playing great hockey, as well as anybody in the country. We'll have our hands full. We'll certainly be aware of some of their tendencies, but the bottom line is, we'll be focused on ourselves and our execution.

They remind me a lot of our team last year quite honestly. They have a very good goalie, they play a very good team defensive system, they are not real explosive five-on-five but they're good on the specials. They're a real good team. Goals will be tough to come by.

We just love Albany. The water, the air, the rain, the clouds we like this stadium. We have some great memories here.

Tonight came down to the last whistle and we are fortunate to have advanced. We had our hands full this weekend. It wasn't an easy road. Obviously, we got a lot of lucky bounces to get there, but hopefully, at the same time, we earned most of them.

I think the only reason we've been here is because of special teams. So, it's a bit ironic that special teams cost us the game. We give our guys freedom to make plays on the power play. Sometimes, it comes back to bit us.

Right now, giving them both the opportunity to play is in the team's best interest. We will need them both to be strong all the way through. When one plays well, the other seems to play well. I have sensed a very good competitive relationship there. They are helping each other to improve and inspiring each other with their play. That's what you want, a healthy-competitive relationship.

We've lost our share of games already so we didn't have a lot of room to play with. Obviously we needed to leave it all out on the ice regardless of the results. And I think for the most part we did that and that is why I am happy.

I think the biggest factor for him was the proximity to his family. His father passed away when he was just a tot, when he was three or four years old, so he is very close with his mother and his family there.

Anytime you can take all three from a team in this league you have done something. We saw how close these games were, they could have gone either way. We're not kidding ourselves by saying we dominated the series.

We played a sloppy game and did not play our best. We are going to have to come out better on Saturday night. We gave them odd-man rushes, but kept the shot total down. It was not our best defensive effort. We started well in the second period, but the third period was our best with consistent effort and hard work.

He was great. He's such a tough competitor and he's in such a tough spot as a freshmen. He hasn't been in this situation before and I thought he handled it great. He made some big stops at key moments and I was very proud of him.

Obviously we're disappointed for Derek because we care about him so much. But mistakes happen. Hopefully we can advance. If we do, hopefully Derek will have an opportunity to play.

Derek lives and breaths Maine hockey.

He is a fierce competitor. He loves to compete. When it comes to hockey he wants to win and his team to do well. He is really passionate about playing the game.

They outworked us. They had better jump. They won loose pucks. Conditioning was definitely a factor. They played Denver two weekends ago, so we needed to play smarter than we did. We tried to get too cute with the puck. We also missed the net a lot.

We have been getting good starts. The last four in a row we've played a good first, so I think we have gotten past that for the most part. I think the challenge for us is to play consistently for 60 minutes.

I think it was important that we didn't get frustrated. We thought we had a decent first period and we had some chances. But I don't think we got to the net very well for the second shot. I thought in the second and third period we did a better job of getting to the net for the second and third shot.

We showed some pretty good poise there and kept plugging away. Just getting the puck to the net and bouncing the puck off somebody's stick, or whatever. It was good perseverance there.

I think we're getting more focused and that's what I am excited about. The last three games we have been very focused on executing the game plan and playing as a team.

We respect the advantage it will be for them. We're not going in thinking it's just another game at a neutral site. We know we're up against it here. And we have a respect for the challenge. But we understand it can be done. We've done it.

Right now, what we need to do as a team is focus on the task at hand, which is winning hockey games.

Each time we've been down, we've been able to fight through. The most enjoyable part this year is we've been through some adverse situations, whether it's injuries or or off ice scenarios, we've all stuck together as team and found a way to bounce back and play well.

He has given us a big lift by being in the lineup and logging so many minutes. He is on our top power- play unit. He has great hockey sense. He loves to play the game and is such a tough competitor.

The bottom line is that we know they are a real strong team, a real talented team and they are playing very well down the stretch. I think it is going to be just a great hockey game.

Every time we scored, they bounced right back. The momentum shifted to us in the third period, but the game could have gone either way. We're just fortunate we got the last swing of momentum.

We have to continue to improve all aspects of our game. One of the keys is to get in game shape. We had a long layoff. Conditioning is very important. It's our number one priority.

He might have been the best player among both teams. He is so strong on the puck. He's great at keeping possession of it. He'll fend off opponents by using his body and shifting his weight. He'll enable us to sustain a power play another 20 seconds by winning a loose puck and controlling it.