Update: 05/20/2022 11:17
Released: 20.05.2022, 11:17

Tampere – Striker David Krejčí continued his partnership with David Pastrňák at the World Hockey Championships in Tampere, as if he had not left Boston a year ago. From the opening seconds of the duel against Latvia (5:1) it was clear how well the two players on the ice understood each other and even Krejčí’s season in the extra league of Olomouc didn’t change anything. He later appreciated not only Pastrňák, but also praised how perfectly Captain Roman ervenka matched the two.

“It’s unbelievable to play with Pasta. He’s one of the best players in the world. And it’s great that he came to help us. Krejčí said in an interview with reporters before his former Bruins team-mates spoke of him as his mentor.

Pastrňák shined in Thursday night’s duel with Latvia. He scores goals and passes, but the game itself still far exceeds these statistics. And it was as if with his approach he roused the whole team, which looked very different compared to the bloodless performance in the shock 1:2 defeat after the attack with Austria.

“It’s never about one player, but Pasta is a world class player. He fits perfectly on the ice and in the cabin. He hasn’t changed. I think he’s still the same and comfortable. Even though we haven’t seen each other for a while. now, we have called and written. “He has been playing seriously at world level for the last few years. He won’t surprise me with anything,” Krejčí said.

“But it’s time to say something after the last game with the Austrian team as a whole. All the players joined in the conversation and a completely different team went to the first bull. But one game did nothing, we will try to be balanced. better , we have the toughest still ahead,” stressed 36-year-old Krejčí.

This is what coach Kari Jalonen wants to see from the team – a good start to the game. The 5: 0 result was the best of the first third of the national team at the World Championships since 2004, when at the domestic championship in Prague, Kazakhstan also lost 5: 0 in the opening part (7: 0 in total).

“We want to fly them. Besides, we didn’t make it to the end of the previous game. Hertlík’s line immediately scored the first goal, and we were next in a power game, where we sat a lot after Past’s arrival. “evaluating Krejčí.

During power play goals at 2:0 Pastrňák showed that he is far from just an outstanding shooter. Instead of the expected shot from the circle, where he received a pass from Krejí, he found ervenka on the other side and he ended up with an open goal.

“There is more to success. There are also opportunities. That is enough. We want to push on goal and shoot a lot. Somehow it fell there, there were a few punches and the goal went blank. The coach chose us. But we have to keep working on it,” Krejčí said.

The best evidence of the still functioning chemistry between the two players was the fifth goal, with Krejčí setting up an easy finish for Pastrňák to score. “No training but I saw him there. Just one of the events that came out. Of course we tried to find him and Roman fits in well and we complement each other really well. We understand each other, I played well with him. I’m happy. “We set up the first game. It’s still there. But we have to keep going. Now we have to focus on Norway,” Krejčí said.

Latvian hockey tailor