TPS Turku earned an emotional home-ice win against Bili Tygri Liberec on Friday night, securing first place in Group H. Afterwards, forward Dave Spina gave his opinions on it, and what comes next for the team.
by Leeni Pellinen
Turku – TPS earned a big win against Bili Tygri Liberec on Friday night and forward Dave Spina was really satisfied after the game. He admitted that they didn’t get a solid start. The first period was difficult, but TPS fought and were able to capitalize on their scoring chances and win 3-1. Spina was mindful of the fact that a hockey game is a 60-minute battle.
“We had a tough start and that's the way it goes sometimes. But we had couple chances and we scored right the way. So, that made everything a bit easier. And this is a three-period game and in the second and the third we were really good. As long as we win the game, the style doesn’t really matter.”
Spina himself scored TPS’s second goal with his great penalty shot. He knew what to expect since the teams had a shootout a week ago in Liberec and Spina knew how goalie Roman Will might react.
“I shot last Friday against the same goalie in the shootout and last time I tried to make a move and this time I thought I'd come down and just react whatever I saw him to after I made one move. So, honestly, I don’t really remember what I did. I guess he went down and I went up – I shot it and it went in,” Spina said smiling.
Spina understands that players always want to win and are ready to do everything it takes to win a game, but he can’t understand when opponents show a lack of respect on the ice. He figures that the Liberec players were frustrated in the third period, took a lot of penalties and played really recklessly.
“It is frustrating to see injuries happen and when dirty play is happening. Then I get frustrated. This is little bit more personal to me, when you try to hurt others and hit the guys from the behind, then try to tell the referees that you didn’t do anything wrong but everybody in the building sees that it was a dangerous play. I don’t respect that style of play, but I know they’re trying to win. I do respect that they are working really hard.”
The 33-year-old American is starting his second season in Turku and third season in the Liiga. CHL games are real games and Spina said that it is so much fun to play these serious games prior to the start of the Finnish league schedule. According to Spina, the CHL is a validation of your off-season, how well you have done your job and how your team was built – that there is the right mixture of physicality and skill.
Spina said that TPS will take the weekend to just chill and relax. Then they'll start thinking about their next CHL game on Monday. TPS will play against Lorenskog IK in Norway on Friday.
“The game is not in our mind at the moment. It’s having a good day tomorrow – a good time as a team. And then have a good day off on Sunday and start the week off right.”
Having faced Lorenskog once already at home, Spina knows about their upcoming opponent and what to expect.
“They will play at their best. We are probably the best team they will face during this season. They are trying to make a statement and win a game against one of the best teams in Europe. We need go there and be little bit better from the start and play like we played the last two periods today. If will be a fun trip.”