Hockey is a team sport and the Rouen Dragons’ Matija Pintarič is a team player. In stopping all 29 shots from Red Bull Salzburg’s high-powered offence, the Slovenian netminder has helped bring the French club that much closer to a chance at the Final. But his efforts would be for naught if not for the other guys on the ice.
“Well, I think it was 20 guys giving a huge performance tonight,” Pintarič admitted. “Both teams played well. It was a fast, physical game and I think we put out a great effort and got an amazing win for the whole team.”
He went on to break down just how they helped: “Honestly, I think we did a pretty good job keeping the puck to the outside, not giving them too many scoring chances and if they had something we were really quick on the rebounds in front of the net. I think we played well defensively all around.”
"It worked this time so hopefully it’ll work next time, too."Rouen Dragons' Matija Pintarič on how they plan to prepare for the return leg
Rouen’s 3-0 victory over Salzburg might have been their crowning achievement to date in the CHL this campaign, but for Pintarič, despite taking care of business from his end, he’s not so sure it was his best effort.
“By the meaning, yeah, but if you mean my performance, I don’t know. Maybe the game in Klagenfurt was pretty tough.”
Regardless, the CHL veteran concedes that, “winning a game in the Playoffs in the CHL is something special.”
Winning in any capacity is special, especially when you pull one off against a club that’s as celebrated as Salzburg. Pintarič is well aware of this and predicts that the next matchup will be a difficult one.
“I think they have a good team. Salzburg have always been an amazing team. They’re always dangerous, especially offensively. I think we did a good job containing them and it’s gonna be a very hard battle next time.”
As the French set their sights on next week's fixture, the backstop doesn’t see the squad changing much from what they did in the first game, saying, “We’re gonna prepare the same. It worked this time so hopefully it’ll work next time, too.”
To be sure, it’s not just about the physical preparation for Pintarič, but also the mentality you approach it with, noting, “We have to go into that game with the mindset of winning it, we can’t just go there to defend the lead because in hockey that’s pretty much impossible.”
For now, though, the netminder is just happy to be playing in a city that for him feels, “like a second home,” and with a team that has been nothing but welcoming to him. Whatever the future holds for Rouen in the CHL he just wants to, “keep the story going.”