I have to be better, Pastrňák reported. He was startled on the ice, pressure is an everyday bread in Boston
Czech hockey player David Pastrňák is preparing for the playoff match against Denmark, expressing the need to improve his performance after struggling in previous games during the Milan Olympics.
Czech hockey players have been training in Milan ahead of their first playoff game against Denmark, and forward David Pastrňák is set to play alongside Roman Červenka and Lukáš Sedlák. The trio is expected to help revive Pastrňák's form, which has been underwhelming in the group stage despite contributing a goal and two assists. He acknowledges that he hasn't fully delivered in the crucial matches against Canada and Switzerland and is focused on enhancing his play.
During a recent training session, Pastrňák emphasized his need to perform better, confidently stating that he believes he will. The team practiced various plays, including refining their power play strategy, to increase their chances against Denmark. The practice wasn't without incident, as a puck mishap temporarily startled Pastrňák when it hit his helmet, causing a brief scare but ended without serious injury.
The atmosphere among the Czech team was understandably somber after a recent loss to Switzerland, which came in overtime. This loss has raised the pressure on Pastrňák and his teammates, as they now face the challenge of overcoming Denmark to advance further in the tournament. The stakes are high, and the Czech squad must rally to avoid an early exit from the competition, which adds to the pressure on their star players.