Petržalka tunes up for the playoffs with a 5:1 triumph. Pillár sounds the charge: A new competition begins

In another RAHL2 game, HK Petržalka produced a clear-cut result, beating team Alpha 5:1. One of the main figures of the game was Štefan Pillár, who left a big mark on the win with two goals and one assist. We interviewed him after the game.

1. Two goals and one assist in the game against Alpha. How would you rate your performance?

Štefan: “A game with nothing left at stake. We played relaxed, we tried to move the puck and we were getting scoring chances. I managed to convert a few, which I'm glad about, and I hope they keep going in like this in the next games too – not just for me, but for the whole team.”

2. ⁠You won the game quite clearly, 5:1. How would you rate your team's performance?

Štefan: “Before the game we told ourselves that we had to skate the whole game, pressure the opponent and defend actively in the defensive zone, which we stuck to, and the result reflects that.”

3. ⁠You finished the regular season in fourth place in the standings. Are you happy with that finish?

Štefan: “Personally, I'm not happy. At HKP we always want to fight for the top spots, whether it's the regular season or the playoffs. Of course, the playoffs are starting, which is a new competition, and whoever we get, we have to beat so that we can celebrate at the end of the season.”

4. ⁠In the playoff quarterfinals you will run into HC Senec. How will you prepare for this game?

Štefan: “Senec is a traditional opponent full of excellent hockey players, and they have a great goalie. The guys want the title just as much as we do, and it's going to be a very tough quarterfinal. The only way we can prepare is at pickup games and in the pregame video analysis.”

5. ⁠You only joined the team after the winter break. How do you feel in RAHL2 after a longer break?

Štefan: “I feel more rested. Of course I've followed the league from the start, and you can see that the league has become much more even in quality, which is great, and I'm already looking forward to the playoff games.”

With the 5:1 win, HK Petržalka thus picks up important points along with a clear signal that it can control games both in play and on the scoreboard. Štefan Pillár confirmed his excellent form (2+1) and after the game assessed not only his own performance, but also what worked for the team and where he still sees room for improvement.