Following their eighth-final loss to HC Davos, Bili Tygri Liberec centre Petr Jelinek and defenceman Martin Sevc reflected on the two games. While they're proud with what they accomplished as a team in the Champions Hockey League, they also believe that they could still be alive in the competition by eliminating a few mistakes.

by Derek O'Brien, Krystoff Rossman and Dominik Jakubec

LIBEREC – So far this season, Bili Tygri Liberec have been more successful than anybody predicted. More than a quarter way through the season, they are first place in the Czech Extraliga. In the Champions Hockey League, they were also respectable, being one of the last 16 teams remaining. Unfortunately, they believe they could still be alive.

After using strong first periods to their favour in the Round of 32 against Linkoping HC by scoring four times in the opening frame of each game, the tables were turned on them in the next round by HC Davos. 

“In a way we beat ourselves,” said centre Petr Jelinek. “At home, we gave them three odd-man chances in the first period and they scored three goals. Then in the second game they capitalized on the chances we gave them and scored three goals again. Otherwise, I think we were the better team.”

Defenceman Martin Sevc agreed.

“In both games we fell behind in the first period, then we tried to fight back to even. We came close, but unfortunately we couldn’t get that fourth goal (in the second game), which would have put us right there.” 

Speaking about the first periods of the two games, Sevc concluded, “In total we conceded six goals and scored two. When we look at the total score, that was the difference.”

After falling behind 3–1 after the first period of their home game in Liberec, the teams traded goals the rest of the way and the aggregate score was 5–3 in Davos’s favour going into the game in Switzerland. Knowing they needed offence, the White Tigers pushed hard right from the start of the game, but that opened the door for more Davos chances.

“I think we were pushing offensively right from the beginning of the game,” Sevc said about Game 2 in Davos. “We knew that we were down two goals on aggregate. We tried to catch up by going all out, but unfortunately Davos exploited some of the openings we gave them.”

“We knew how it would be trying to play from behind,” Jelinek knew. “They were just sitting back and waiting for us to make a mistake or try to try to press to hard. Unfortunately, we gave them the opportunities, which ultimately cost us.”

Jelinek did all he could to get his team back into it. Trailing four goals on aggregate, the 31-year-old Prague native scored twice. The home fans quieted while the dozens of Liberec fans who had made the trip got excited. With still half a hockey game to go, it looked possible. But they got no closer as Davos tightened up and didn’t allow another goal.

“They defended well to keep the lead in the end,” Jelinek described. “Maybe we deserved to win, but we had to try to score, which is why we pulled the goalie. Then when they got that fourth goal, it was more or less decided.”

That spells the end of Liberec’s European adventure, of which they have mixed feelings – proud of what they accomplished, but believing they could have done more. 

“The goal was to advance from the group, which we did,” Sevc said of the team’s aims heading into the tournament. “Then we ran into a strong Swedish unit, but we managed to get past them relatively easily. I don’t think there was much difference between us and Davos, but unfortunately we came up just short of getting into the quarter-finals.”

“I don’t think we have anything to be ashamed of,” echoed Jelinek. “We managed to beat Nitra twice, we played tough against a strong Skelleftea club, then followed that up with Linkoping and scored 10 goals in two games. And Davos, I think I can say it was great hockey for the fans to watch. There was a wonderful atmosphere in both arenas and end-to-end hockey. We only regret that we’re not advancing, because we think we could have.”

The White Tigers were especially hopeful of how far they could go considering how successful they’ve been domestically this season. With their CHL season finished, they now turn their attention back to the Extraliga, where they find themselves in first place. Jelinek feels that how the team was able to compete against some very strong clubs from other countries only gives them more confidence going forward.

“You play better when you're first than when you’re in 12th place. You have just a little more confidence, so you can easily shake off a loss and get back to it. But the main thing is we can’t get too overconfident, because after all only a quarter of the season is done and we still have a long way to go.”

Watch highlights of Game 1 between Liberec and Davos here:

Watch highlights of Game 2 between Davos and Liberec here: