In the Crease with Craig Russell

The Plymouth State Men's Hockey Team looks to continue their strong play in the 2012-2013 campaign with their MASCAC semi-final game tomorrow night against Fitchburg State.  In the previous three match-ups this season, the Panthers have won all three games, including a 1-0 game in early December, a 3-2 overtime victory on January 26^th, and a 5-1 win last Tuesday, February 19^th.

Eric Brill (EB)- So this is the four contest between the two teams, and you guys have beaten them the previous three games. It is hard enough to sweep an opponent in the regular season. Going into the four game, how do you feel about Fitchburg?

Craig Russell (CR)- It's tough! It is desperation for both teams. They are going to have more desperation because they know that they have to play a great game. I am not sure what to think at this point; we'll know more tomorrow when the guys walk into the building. It is definitely a game where they can get a couple of bounces, and get a couple of goals early. They don't take a lot of penalties, so they won't give us many powerplay opportunities, so we have to manufacture goals 5-on-5. If we are lucky enough to get a short-handed goal, great! We've got to play a discipline game, and not give them too many powerplay opportunities, because their powerplay is pretty deadly. They rely on their powerplay a lot for their offense. It is going to be interesting! The most difficult thing is to eliminate a team. Essentially, the type of feeling we got is that we are up 3-0 in the series, and we are trying to eliminate them. If they beat us, then we are done. Everybody knows what is on the line. Everybody has to step their game up a little bit more, because we know Fitchburg is going to. We have talked about them having another level all year, and we get to find out if we have one, and what it looks like. I am excited for that.

EB- I feel like it takes a little bit to get this team going, as if they need a kick in the (pants).

CR- Sometimes! Our second period has been our best period all year. We are like a +10 (goal differential) in the first period, and a +20 in the second, and something like a +4 in the third. We have had a couple of games we have given up a bunch in the third where we have won. Most likely, the game is going to be close after two periods, either way. We just have to rely on our fitness level, and rely on all the work we put on in the off-season, and the pre-season to carry us through the late stages of the game. In the second game we played them, they went up 2-0 early, and didn't score the rest of the game. We were able to pull it out in overtime. They have a difficult time holding leads, and we have had a difficult time at certain spots. We definitely have to play well from the start. It is playoff hockey; you can't afford to take a shift off.

EB- Have you been focusing on the powerplay over the past week?

CR- Usually, we just practice the powerplay a day or two before a game, but we have done it the last three days. We did practice it only one day going into the last Fitchburg game. I think they are starting to feel more comfortable in their spots, and we are starting to get some more equality opportunities. Fitchburg's goalie is the type of goalie we have to score "junk" goals against. We aren't going to snipe in goals on him, unless you are Mike Freitag.  All joking aside, he is a good goalie, and he is a big kid. We've got to keep traffic in front of him and keep him deep in the net so we can open up some holes.

EB- You have said before that ugly goals are hard to come by with this team. Knowing that, and knowing you won't get too many of those sniper shots, does that give you more reason for concern?

CR- I'm not concerned, but it is an area you can always improve at. You can never score enough goals, and you can never create enough chances. I worry about it in certain areas, such as when we are up a goal, and we get the chance, that's when we need it. If we are up two goals, and we get a chance, that's when we need it. It doesn't need to be the one that puts us ahead, it just needs to be that "big one" that gives us some insurance, or maybe even a little bit more of a cushion. It's the one that puts the nail in the coffin; it is the old cliché that we need to finish them off. If we can get that one time, we are going to remember what it feels like to get it.

EB- Have any of the seniors really rallied the troops to try to give the team any more motivation?

CR- I don't think so. Leadership has been a big deal with this team all year; it's there. We are getting Phil Arnone back tomorrow, so that will be a HUGE spark for us. He is excited to get back out there, so that is going to rub off on everybody. He'll be yelling and screaming when he walks into the building tomorrow, and that is going to be infectious amongst the group.

EB- No one has to really turn around and say "this is playoff hockey", everyone knows their role. No one has to pump anyone up; they know it is one-and-done.

CR- Yup. Collectively, you have to be discipline in all facets, you have to stay out of the box, play within the system, shoot the puck, and move the puck. All of the little things come into play even more, because it is that little mistake that is going to end up in the back of the net, especially against Fitchburg. If you give them anything, they are going to take it. We have to create opportunities for ourselves, so that they are tired when we get those opportunities.