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David Pastrnak takes a sly dig at NHL for Czechia's exclusion from 4 Nations Face-Off after IIHF Gold Medal win
Boston Bruins star David Pastrnak aimed a sly dig at the NHL for not including Czechia in the 4 Nations Face-Off after they won the 2024 IIHF World Championship on Sunday.
Pastrnak played a crucial role in Czechia's 2-0 shutout win against Switzerland at a packed home arena in Prague. The 28-year-old forward scored a goal in the game, while the Toronto Maple Leafs' David Kampf was the other scorer for the nation in the final match.
In January, the NHL/NHLPA announced the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament scheduled for February 2025. The nine-day event will include Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Finland. Czechia was not included in the tournament, and David Pastrnak was "sad and pissed," expressing dissatisfaction with the NHL's decision.
After clinching the IIHF World Championship gold medal on Sunday, Pastrnak took to Instagram to post a picture with the cup and made a cheeky comment directed towards the NHL in the caption.
"Maybe Four Nation invite now?" - Pastrnka wrote.
The win notably marked the seventh title for Czechia since becoming a nation in 1993 and the first since 2010.
David Pastrnak on winning gold for Czechia
Czechia and Switzerland were goalless until the halfway mark of the third period. At 10:47, David Pastrnak scored a one-timer from the left circle on Tomas Kundratek from the blue line to give Czechia a crucial 1-0 lead.
This was also the first goal for the Bruins forward in the tournament. With less than 20 seconds remaining in the final period, David Kampf sealed the gold medal for his nation after scoring on an empty net for Czechia.
In the postgame interview, Pastrnak described the winning moment at home as a "special" one. He weighed in on the nation's long-awaited desire for the gold medal, emphasizing the perfect timing of the victory.
David Pastrnak also conveyed immense gratitude to the fans for their support throughout the tournament. He said (via ESPN):
"We did it at home. We've been waiting for gold for a very long time and it couldn't have come at a better time. It's always a big thank you [to the fans]. They did amazing for weeks, and we were so excited to be able to extend it for them to play for the medal."
Pavel Zacha, Pastrnank's Bruins teammate, highlighted their hard work and dedication as key factors that propelled them to reach this stage in the tournament.
"Coming here, the team was doing great, but we didn't expect to be this far," Zacha said in his on-ice interview before the final. "But I think our work ethic and everything helped us to get here."
David Pastrnak and the Bruins were eliminated by the Florida Panthers in their Eastern Conference second-round series. He had eight points through four goals and as many assists in the postseason.
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