Ice hockey top scorer scores again: NHL striker Peterka in World Cup form
Scored two goals against Latvia: DEB striker JJ Peterka (r). photo
© Darko Vojinovic/AP/dpa
At the last Ice Hockey World Championship, JJ Peterka impressed as the third best scorer. This year the striker needed a bit of a start.
JJ Peterka’s relief is great. The national player finally scored at the Ice Hockey World Cup in the Czech Republic.
“It feels good when the thing goes in,” said the NHL professional from Buffalo after his two goals in the 8-1 gala against Latvia. “If one falls, more fall.”
In last year’s silver coup in Tampere, Peterka was the tournament’s third-best scorer with six goals and six assists. In the last NHL season he scored 28 times in 82 games for the Sabers and is on the verge of becoming a top player in North America. In Ostrava he always had good chances against Slovakia (6:4), the USA (1:6) and Sweden (1:6), but remained visibly annoyed without a sense of success. “He puts a lot of pressure on himself. I wish he didn’t always do it like that,” said national coach Harold Kreis.
With his first two goals on Wednesday against third-placed Latvia, Peterka is back on the way to becoming a feared goalscorer. “He played much more freely,” said Kreis, praising his star striker after his brace. “If the goals are good for him, they are also good for the team.”
On Friday (4:20 p.m./ProSieben and MagentaSport) Peterka has the next opportunity to experience success against Kazakhstan. “I won’t change my game now,” announced the former Munich player. “I just want to help the team.”
dpa
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