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“It was an emotional game about one goal. None of us managed to get it, not even on power plays so it had to be decided in the shootouts. We were more fortunate in the end,” Patrik Svitana acknowledged.
He took a chance with two shots and managed to score both. “I believed in myself. I take the penalty shots even if it’s ice hockey. I’m glad it went in and our goalie could have decided about us going into the final,” he reminded the final save of the game.
Lukas Heczko stayed in his crease for a long time with each shot. And Svitana took advantage of it. “I noticed with the first penalty shot that he stays deep and waits for our movement. I tried to get him out with the first one and I did. With the second shot, he chose a side and I read it so I went the other way. I’m glad it worked out like that,” he said.
There was more than seven thousands fans attending the game and a great atmosphere. “The crowd was not anything so special for me. I am used to similar conditions,” says Svitana who played in Krakow for two years. “But we all enjoyed it.”
Stanislav Petrik managed to shut the goal in both playoffs games now for Slovakia. “Knowing he’s a veteran, he does quite a decent job,” Svitana jokes about their masked man.
The Czechs were close to win at some points in the game. A shot to the post with seconds to go in overtime. “Well, as we say: the better team has fortune on its side. So I believe we were the better side this time,” 28-years-old forward says.
I think there were quite a lot of penalties, but both teams defended well so there were no goals from power plays. It was hyped until the end just like it should be. It went into shootouts and were the luckier side there.
Now it’s Canada vs Slovakia for gold. “We played a good game in the group stage with them and managed to win it so we will try to do the same on Saturday and win again,” Svitana says. And if there is a shootout? “I would go again.”