NCAA MEN'S FROZEN FOUR SEMIFINAL: MASSACHUSETTS VS MINNESOTA DULUTH

April 8, 2021

Matt Murray

Garrett Wait

PPG Paints Arena

Massachusetts Minutemen

Postgame Media Conference

Massachusetts - 3, Minnesota Duluth - 2 (OT)

MODERATOR: Garrett Wait and Matt Murray joining us.

Q. This is for either of you. What did you see differently in overtime, you pretty much looked like a different team, tilting the game in your favor. What did you do differently there?

GARRETT WAIT: We decided to keep it more simple than usual -- keep pucks on the wall, take it to the net and shoot the puck.

MATT MURRAY: I think the guys just executed our game plan to perfection. And they came out ready to go and worked so hard. And it was definitely noticeable that they were ready to go in that overtime.

Q. Garrett, what was that moment like for you to deliver on that stage for this team?

GARRETT WAIT: It was pretty cool. Something that everyone dreams about. Now we have another game to focus on so you can't get too high.

Q. I kind of want to know what's going through your head in those late stages, third period and overtime, when you're facing shots like that.

MATT MURRAY: At that point, honestly, it was just -- I was kind of in the zone. It was going well for me all game. I felt great. In overtime, the guys did such a great job in our D zone. I think they had a partial breakaway and one of our guys caught them from behind. And it shows how hard those guys are working. And they really made it a lot easier than it probably could have been for me.

Q. You mentioned that you felt pretty good from the beginning. Did it take any time for you to settle in, your first game since January 18th, how were you feeling?

MATT MURRAY: I don't think it took me too much time. I think ever since my last game I've really made sure to treat practices as games and give it everything I have every single day. And I think that -- was able to help me put my best foot forward today and it felt natural. It felt great to be back in that.

Q. I'd like to ask a different version of the same question that was posed at the beginning to both of you. And I'll put it this way. What is it about your cardio regimen, seriously, is there anything different you guys did during the season, before the season, that catapulted you to where you were in overtime? You were skating faster, stronger. Put that into words for me, both of you.

GARRETT WAIT: Brandon does a great job at keeping us in shape and so do the coaches on the ice implementing drills during practice, making us skate up and down. And they got, like, a big boy pants club where some guys skate after practice.

MATT MURRAY: Yeah, I think it's just comes down to how hard the guys work in practice, whether it be Monday morning, Monday night or any day else in the week. It's always guys working hard. And that's when it pays off is in times like this when you got guys working that hard when no one's watching.

Q. Garrett, could you tell me the process how you ended up at UMass, why you chose them? Did you ever manage it working out this way?

GARRETT WAIT: I just put my name in the portal. I didn't really know anything about the school or anything. And Jared DeMichiel reached out to me, called me, said would I be interested in coming here.

I reached out to Trivigno, who I played with in Waterloo. And he told me about it. I kind of took a leap of faith on what they were saying. I really enjoyed what they were saying about being a family here and the culture, that everyone strives to take off the walls.

Q. Garrett, can you take us through the game winner, how you ended up getting so open on the backdoor?

GARRETT WAIT: I saw Trivigno take it around the net, and I decided to stop on the back post, and put my stick on the ice. And lucky enough it found my stick. And Trigs made a great play.

Q. What kind of chemistry have you and Bobby developed on that line this year because Carvel called you the best line this year, what is it that you did to develop the chemistry with him to be able to deliver in this moment?

GARRETT WAIT: Can you repeat that. I didn't hear you.

Q. What's your chemistry like with Bobby to know what you're supposed to do in that situation and based on the play he made?

GARRETT WAIT: I think it's just predictability. When you know where guys are going to be pretty much the whole game and their style of play and what they're going to do, it's easy for you to do your own job.

Q. In overtime there it seemed like you guys really ramped up the pressure there on the Bulldogs. Was that something you discussed in between the third period and overtime from something you saw during the third, or was that something that just started there in OT, something you sensed, something you guys, whether it was you had an extra step or what was -- what prompted the increased pressure?

GARRETT WAIT: I don't know. Coach kept telling us to keep our feet moving. So that's what we did. We listened to him and we trusted in everybody else, everyone to do their own jobs and just put pucks on net.

MATT MURRAY: I think it was just everybody doing their part and everybody taking it upon themselves to elevate their game and it elevated our team. And I think that was the easiest way to put it is every guy in our dressing room really wanted it tonight. And that's what I think made the difference in overtime.

Q. Matt, can you describe the feeling of pride that must be going through you right now to have been put in the situation you were in and to play as well as you did, to put your teammates and yourself in a situation to play for a championship?

MATT MURRAY: Yeah, it's a great feeling. Obviously playing hockey is the best thing to do in the world. And it's great to have such an amazing group of guys to share that kind of feeling with.

And like I said earlier, they really did their part, too. It was a great team game. And, yeah, it was a great experience to be back on the ice.

Q. What was it like to have to overcome the loss of the four guys that were really important and your mindset going into that? And did you guys get to talk to them on Zoom or whatever after the game or get to celebrate with them at all in any way, in between periods or anything like that?

GARRETT WAIT: Losing four players isn't easy, even -- especially because they're with us every part of the way. And they bought in just like everybody else. But it's the next-man-up mentality.

MATT MURRAY: I think Waiter hit it on the head there. Obviously it's tough when you lose some of those key guys. But it's even better when that happens and then you have guys step up their game and guys being an impact when otherwise it might not have been their opportunity. It was just them taking advantage of it. And it was great for our team.

Q. Matt, it's been a weird year, week, all that, and now you find out the school says that Filip and the rest of the guys are going to be coming back to the team tomorrow. Is that weird for you? How do you see the next couple of days playing out for you with all that happening?

MATT MURRAY: I'm just happy to get the band back together. Steigs has been a great guy, filling up the extra goalie role. But us three have some really good chemistry. And obviously missing Carson is a big presence and everything.

I think it's going to be nothing but hard work and smiles when everyone comes back tomorrow.

MODERATOR: Thank you.