HC Pilsen have made a habit of performing well in the Champions Hockey League. Last season, they made the Semi-Finals. This season, they’ve secured their Playoff place with two games remaining in the Group Stage.
On Saturday, despite falling behind, the Czech side rallied back to defeat Rungsted Seier Capital 4-2 in Denmark. It maybe wasn’t a vintage Pilsen performance, but it was their fourth win in a row to start the 2019/20, leaving the team with 10 points and their place in the Round of 16.
“We’re definitely delighted not only with the result, but also with the fact we’ve qualified for the Playoffs”HC Pilsen defenceman Michal Moravčík
After going 6 games without a point last season, defenceman Michal Moravčík has had a great start to his 2019/20 campaign. He has 3 points through 4 games and scored his first goal of the season on Saturday night.
Speaking about his goal, Moravčík said, “We won the face-off and the puck got right to my stick. Before that, Jan Eberle said he would go to make a screen and create some pressure in front of the net. I just hit it and I think the goalie couldn’t see anything and it went in.
“We’re definitely delighted not only with the result, but also with the fact we’ve qualified for the Playoffs. We wanted to succeed on this trip and getting 5 points surely is a success. We’re glad that we won’t be entering the last two games against Zug being scared about losing the chance to make the Playoffs”, said the Pilsen defenceman.
Rungsted put up a sterner test, than they did in Pilsen on Gameday 2, which was noted by Moravčík.
“Rungsted played the same way as they did in Pilsen, but they scored the first goal this time and we had to chase them. In Pilsen, we got lucky and took our chances right off the start. We just didn’t score as many goals today, but it was a similar game”.
Miroslav Indrák also got on the scoresheet in Denmark. Speaking about the game, he said, “It was a difficult game they scored the first goal but we managed to get it back pretty soon and then took the lead ourselves. We scored couple more goals and deservedly won. It’s a great boost just ahead of the Extraliga start”.
Both players reiterated HC Pilsen’s commitment to performing well in the Champions Hockey League. Pilsen have been a perennial contender, and consistently one of the best Czech teams.
Moravčík said, “I think getting four wins out of four games shows how seriously we take the competition, it’s getting more prestigious every year. And I personally really like competing against the top European teams. It is better than playing the same 13 teams again and again”.
His comments were reiterated by Indrák, who commented on the importance of playing such competitive games so early in the season.