Off the ice with Patrik Elias

Sunday, 02.21.2010 / 6:25 PM / All-Access Vancouver

By Shawn P. Roarke - NHL.com Senior Managing Editor

E-mail

VANCOUVER -- Czech Republic captain Patrik Elias was disappointed with Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Russians at Canada Hockey Place in the final Group B game, especially because it will likely put his team into Tuesday's qualification round.

Russia took the group with the victory, finishing with seven points to the Czech's six. The final seeding, and the resulting matchups, will be determined at the end of play Sunday.

After the game, Elias took a few minutes with NHL.com to discuss the game and the state of the Czech team after the preliminary round.

NHL.com: Are you happy with the team after the preliminary round?

Elias: We played well against Slovakia. We played well in the last two periods here and we proved we can play with anyone in this tournament. Obviously, we wanted to have that extra day off and not go through that one extra game (in qualification), but it did not work out. We gave our best there and we'll be ready on Tuesday.

NHL.com: What was the turning point in the game?

Elias: The power play, on our side. We didn't execute.

NHL.com: Was the bench shocked by that hit on Jaromir Jagr by Alex Ovechkin?

Elias: A little bit, but I just said, 'Let's get pissed off. That's fine. Everybody is going to play physical and (Ovechkin) is known for that and let's do the same to them.' I think we had a couple of shifts right after that and we didn't shy away and then we were two goals down and we had to try to play some hockey and score some goals.

NHL.com: Jagr seemed to get right back into it, too?

Elias: He was fine. It shows those young guys, they don't care -- especially Ovechkin. He's known for that. You have to keep your head up all the time with those guys.

Off the ice with Patrik Elias

By Shawn P. Roarke - NHL.com Senior Managing Editor

AFFILIATE SITES

PLAYER SITES

RETIRED PLAYERS

COMMUNITY

TERMS

FUN STUFF

ABOUT