Ceresňák first threw away his tutu, then decided just before the siren: I was going to blow it up there

Is it a big relief that you managed such a tough match?

Absolutely, you never know what’s going to happen in overtime. We played patiently and had chances. The coaches warned us that it would definitely be a tougher match than Friday, so we expected that. Last time we thought about it there and now we maybe struggled a bit in the end, but we still played well. Patiently, from a secured defense. A win is a win.

And for you as the author, the decisive hits are even sweeter. Did you aim?

I just went there to burn it. I had my head down and was mainly trying to hit the puck. And a goal. I had no idea how much time was left. I saw that one of our players pulled two opponents into the goal area and a window opened in front of me, into which I drove and received a pass from Lukáš Radil. Fortunately, it fell there. Then Tomáš Dvořák secured it into an empty goal. We are all very happy for the win.

You had a great chance four minutes before the end. So you finally redeemed yourself?

I don’t take it that way. It’s more like a reward for the whole team. I didn’t actually see Lukáš Sedlák’s pass during that tut. I was surprised to suddenly have a puck on my blade.

Were you surprised by how well Olomouc defended the midfield?

In the playoffs, nobody wants to let the middle zone go for free, so it’s no wonder that Olomouc played differently. The opponent made changes in defense and passing game. We said something about it, but on the ice it’s always a little bit about improvisation.

How satisfied are you with the start of the playoffs, which you enter as one of the main favorites?

An ideal start to the quarterfinals. During the two weeks off we were given training on how to play. A classic before the playoffs. Everyone got it, but it’s just the beginning. We must not underestimate anything. The main thing is to always have the same attitude, be responsible and not go crazy. Only then can we be successful.

Do you think that you will face an even bigger test on the opponent’s ice on Tuesday and Wednesday?

The home team will be even better in Olomouc. It will be sold out and again it will be packed with excitement. We might get under our skin some battle… But we are an experienced team. Everyone knows what to do in order not to lose their head in the playoffs, to remain mentally resistant to fights and word games.