Philip Zadina. | Photo: Markéta Křížová
Eighty-four matches and only nineteen wins. San Jose played the role of the underdog this season in the NHL and finished last. So Filip Zadina has to quickly put the negative energy from the Californian cabin behind him and shift to a higher level on behalf of the national team.
Radim Rulík talked about the difficult adaptation of players from the NHL. What was it like playing against a European opponent?
I didn’t play the last five games in the NHL due to injury, but it’s better now. Of course, it’s all the more difficult on a big pitch. Even against the Finns, who skate a lot. During the second period, however, it slowly fell out of me and it got better and better.
You had teammates in the line that you don’t know. That will probably take some time too…
Sure, it’s always about that time before we get used to each other. When you line up with someone you’ve never played with, it takes at least a game and a few practices.
“At the beginning we had some chances, which unfortunately we didn’t convert. There were some shots, but we didn’t create any loaded tutovka.”
The Finns, on the other hand, came with a fairly well-coordinated team. Was it a problem that they were leading in the match?
Probably yes. We had some chances from the start which unfortunately we didn’t convert. There were some shots, but we didn’t create any loaded tutovka. They had a power play, which they played very well and made it 1:0. Then they started playing their hockey where it’s hard to break through their defense. Finns are very fast and strong.
There are a lot of you here and everyone wants to go to Prague. Can over-effort also play a role?
Maybe that can play a bit of a role. But when we’re on the ice, everyone wants to work hard for the team and do their best to win.
Four power plays came up empty. Was there an interplay between them?
We have three power fives, which is something unusual, none of us have ever experienced it. On the other hand, it gives us more options. It’s a shame that we didn’t score at least one goal from the power play.
Didn’t the coach want to leave it more up to you to not reveal the cards before the championship?
Yes, he gave us freedom. We’ll see, maybe the next match will demand more from us. When we play the first match with Finland in the championship, it can be beneficial. If their lineup doesn’t change, then we have videos and clips that we can benefit from.
Not much was expected of San Jose before the season. Didn’t you just want a little more from yourself?
When we started, everyone probably expected a little more from the team. Unfortunately, it played out the way it played out. It wasn’t optimal and nobody was happy with it. It was more or less downhill from the start and it was difficult to play against teams that went into the playoffs with cup matches on their minds.
Do you expect a similar role in the national team as in San Jose, where you also peeked into the first two lines?
To tell the truth, I played more like third and fourth. I was in the first at the beginning and at the end, but I certainly wasn’t used to it. I will accept any role here, the main thing is that the team succeeds.
“I watched Pardubice throughout the playoffs and occasionally watched other matches as well. It went well with an hour’s shift in the morning for coffee.”
Did you watch Pardubice in the playoffs? Mainly because of dad on the bench.
I watched Pardubice throughout the playoffs and occasionally watched other matches as well. It worked out with an hour shift in the morning for coffee. I was in contact with my dad throughout the season, but I didn’t bother him much in the playoffs so that he could focus mainly on the team.
You have club teammate Jan Rutta here. Are you in the room together?
Yes we are. It’s an advantage to have him here. Tomáš Hertl and I were more or less together for a whole year. I don’t want to bother Tomáš too much now. They have a tough time, Dallas is 3-2, so I hope he turns it around to make the move pay off and play as long as possible in the playoffs.
How the national team trained on Friday:
Goalkeepers: Mrázek – Vejmelka – Dostál
Defenders:
Hájek – Gudas
Špaček – Mašín
Rutta – The Quiet One
Kempný – Zábranský
Krejčík – Kundrátek
Scotsman – Koštálek
Attackers:
Červenka – Špaček – O. Kaše
Kubalík – Nose – Palate
Lenc – M. Kovařčík – Kousal
Báránek – Kondelík – Stránský
Crow – Guy – Tomášek
Flek – Kodýtek – O. Kovařčík
Peasant – Wagoner
R. Zohorna – Zadina
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