Hockey East Extra: The coach and cap'n

As the University of New Hampshire hockey team prepared for its best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal with Providence College, captain Josh Ciocco, Coach Dick Umile and leading scorer Trevor Smith sat down with the media. Here are excerpts of what they had to say:

DICK UMILE

General comments
"Another season. The regular season is over and we're looking forward to the fact we have a new season ahead of us. We're looking forward to getting back to winning here, and I think we made a major step on Saturday night's game. The way that we played, obviously we have to work harder to find a way to get back to winning."

What do you need to do to get back to the 'little things' that winning teams do?
"Just simplify the game. Basic. Forecheck. Backcheck. Cover your guy. Get it in. And execute. That's what we've talked about this week. We're not trying to do anything crazy, just execute our gameplan and do it well, with discipline."

Was Saturday's BC game better than previous games?
"I thought Saturday night we did the little things well."

What went wrong against Providence last time?
"It was a combination: they played very well and we played really poorly. The puck didn't bounce right for us early on in that game, and the fact that we were behind, we got frustrated and responded poorly. At least the third, fourth, fifth goals were power-play goals after we fell behind, and we got selfish penalties, and (were) undisciplined, and they executed the power play and just put the game away. Then when they went ahead 5-0 they were just pouring it on and we were just going backwards."

What does Providence present?
"They're quick, they play a very fast-paced game, they're very offensive minded, they'll take chances offensively, and that can create problems for you. They live on the edge offensively, and if you turn it over, they've got the advantage. If we can make the plays, they could be at the disadvantage."

They are on a hot streak, scoring-wise.
"They're very good. They're very good. The defense get into the play on the rush, and they're quick. They outshot a lot of teams throughout the season. You'd never know their power play was 0-for-60 until they scored here. They hadn't scored since December - well, they had a feast against us."

They shoot a lot.
"We've got to play better defense. It's handling the puck, and not turning it over. Just playing better team defense. They do like to shoot the puck, so I'm going to tell you this right now, they will shoot from everywhere. They get it to the net. Anywhere, once they get into the zone, they get it to the net and they're looking for rebounds. They're going to get shots to the net. You've got to cover people after that and not give them second or third shots."

What's the mood of the team?
"I think right now everyone's just happy the regular season is over. The playoffs are something we all get excited about, and I think we've put what's happened the last few games in our past. We're the best team going to the playoffs; we're (No.) 1, we're playing 8, so we're confident."

What is the outlook moving forward?
"It's a different season. The bottom line is we finished first, and that's where we are going into the weekend. The playoffs are about what's happened all year, and we've proved all year that we're the best team. That's our attitude right now. So far every goal that we had at the start of the year we've met. We wanted home ice, we wanted to win the regular season - we met those goals so we're ready for the regular season."

After losing three straight, is it nice to get a fresh start?
"Obviously, if I could've won the last three games I'd take those wins, but at the same time we're still in a good spot. We're not really focused on last weekend, but the last time we played Providence - especially right now - it's good. I don't think they're going to surprise us at all on Thursday. We know what we're getting into, we're ready for that, and like I said, we're confident."

Does the 7-1 loss to the Friars become a big motivator?
"We're pretty motivated to play them again right now. I would be incredibly surprised if we don't come out ready to play that game. That first period is probably the best they're going to have seen us play all year."

What happened in that game?
"I think we tried to mail it in. It was one of those things where the regular season was pretty much all but won for us, they were fighting for a playoff spot - I just think it was a lack of motivation on our part, combined with a lot of motivation on their part."

After sitting Saturday with a hip injury, how are you feeling?
"I don't think I should've played Friday night, either, but it was our senior night. It was tough, especially because I thought we played pretty good, and after watching the first couple periods it looked like we were the better team and they were just getting the bounces. Those games are tough to watch, but it's something I don't plan on doing again."

How did the injury occur?
"I actually hit somebody the previous Friday against Providence and it'd been bothering me since then, but it feels pretty good this week. I thought it felt good last week, but then I got into a game and I was shying away from things. Yesterday in practice was pretty positive. I was able to get hit, and hit people as well. It was good."

Are you concerned with a lack of scoring?
"Not concerned about that. Goals are going to happen. We're going to get our chances. Goal scoring is something with confidence, and if we get one or two guys will start feeling it again. That can change in the matter of a game. I don't think that's something that's going to stick in your head for too long."

Is the penalty kill a concern?
"I wouldn't say I'm concerned with the penalty kill, I'd say there might be a bit of concern with the penalties. I think it's something we've got to cut back on. All year we've been saying we've got to cut back on it, be more disciplined. Providence's power play gave us a hard time the last time we played them; we'll make our adjustments this week and we feel pretty confidence the penalty kill will be all set. We've been good all year, the last couple weeks it has been struggling, though, but we'll get back to it. It'll be fine."

Is Providence a tough team to play against?
"They're a good team. I was surprised that they finished eighth - if I could do it over again, if we finished first I wouldn't say that's who we'd be playing - but at the same time they're a bigger team. They're a bit physical. I think they'd prefer to be playing on a smaller rink. I think I said the same exact thing last year, (and) I think it's a huge advantage that we're on our home rink. They've struggled in our rink in moving and keeping up with us. I think we can utilize the big rink better. I guarantee if you asked their coach if they'd rather play on a smaller rink or a big sheet, he'd say they want to play on the small sheet. That's an advantage for us."

The Friars have scored a lot lately.
"Lately they've been getting that going, but all year they kind of struggled with scoring. Right now they're probably feeling pretty confident, but in one game that can change. If we can shut them down in the first period of that first game, the confidence is going to be gone. That's what we plan on doing."

How big is geting off to a good start?
"That first goal is going to be huge I think. If we take it right to them, and we take all the confidence they have right now away from them early, I think the next five periods that'll probably be in their heads."

Are you aware of the need to protect a No. 1 seed for the NCAAs?
"I've thought about it, though I haven't really looked the last couple weeks because of obvious reasons. I don't even know where we are right now, if we're still a No. 1 seed, but I don't really care at this point. That was one of my goals at the start of the year, was to have a No. 1 seed, but the way I look at is if we win Hockey East I can pretty much guarantee we'll be a No. 1 seed. Our goal is to win Hockey East, but they go hand in hand."

TREVOR SMITH

Now it's a fresh start.
"It's the playoffs. It's totally different than the regular season. This is gritty. You're playing to win, you're taking the body every chance - it's gritty, grinding hockey. It's a lot of fun to play, it's a lot of fun (I imagine) for the fans to watch, and it's going to be exciting."

Are you disappointed about losing race for the scoring title to BC's Brian Boyle?
"I didn't realize until I was reading it on Hockey East Online. Yeah, I was a little disappointed. My brother and some of my family were around, they were kind of giving me shots Saturday night after the game, but that's a different story. He's turned it on the last half of the season, and he's a good player."

Is goal scoring a problem right now?
"The chances are there. Once the chances are going away then you should start being concerned. We're getting a lot of chances, we had a lot of shots on Schneider there, and the chances are there."