Tomas Vokoun

Tomas Vokoun
Tomáš Vokounis a retired Czech professional ice hockey goaltender. He played in the National Hockey Leaguefor the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Florida Panthers, Nashville Predators and the Montreal Canadiens, with whom he was originally drafted in the ninth round, 226th overall, in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft...
ProfessionHockey Player
Date of Birth2 July 1976
CityKarlovy Vary, Czech Republic
best czech europe everybody goal grow kid natural player playing practice realize remember saves since style trying watched
I've watched him play since I was 7-years-old. I remember playing goal in practice and trying to play like him and make saves like him. Then you grow up and realize that everybody is different. Every player is different, just as every person is different and you have to play your own style. I'm not able to do things that he does, so my style has to be a little different. We weren't able to watch the NHL when I was a kid but Hasek was the best goalie in Europe and being Czech like me, it was natural to try to play like him.
blocks defense guys helps playing pressure taken veteran
Brendan Witt is playing great. He blocks shots. He is also a leader. With him in the lineup the whole defense has the pressure taken off of them. We have a lot of young guys and a veteran like Brendan helps them play better.
chances facing playing scoring sooner
We're not playing well defensively. Facing 30 or more scoring chances a game, something's going to go in sooner or later.
breaks consistent establish good playing relax tough win
It's tough to establish yourself. You just can't relax for a second. ... We've been playing well. Sometimes you get good breaks at home, but to win on a consistent basis, you have to be doing the right things, not just getting lucky.
felt five four game goals maybe per playing scoring win
We had been scoring a lot of goals and maybe we felt like we just couldn't lose. We started playing loose, but now we're not scoring four or five goals a game per night. And in this NHL, you're not going to win many goals scoring two goals a night.
game improved playing results
We have improved our game and the results are showing. We have been playing much smarter.
playing season ups
We are not playing good. But it is a long season and there are always ups and downs.
gave name playing power third tired took
We gave them too many chances. Power play, 5-on-3, 4-on-3, you name it. Playing back-to-back, we were tired in the third period. They took advantage.
against hard nearly playing practice practicing tough
That's just the way shootouts are. It's kind of hard to get used to shootouts right now. We aren't practicing them because we are playing nearly every day. It's tough to get used to breakaways when you don't practice against them.
enjoying fun night playing
It is not every night you are going to have a 40-shot shutout, ... It is fun to play and I am really enjoying playing right now. It's an unbelievable feeling.
bronze happened happy hard losing playing sweden
Playing for the bronze was hard because losing the semi-final was very breaking. We are disappointed for what happened with Sweden but I'm happy with the medal.
bronze medal playing
Playing for the bronze medal is hard, very hard.
giving hold last league playing red shots start three
I don't know if it's the Red Wings. We've been giving up that many shots about the last three weeks. We're not playing well defensively. If you want to win, you have to start in your own zone. You can't give up 40, 45 shots every night. Especially in this league where you can't hold guys, you can't give up these kind of chances.
definitely fight moment playing starting tournament whoever
I'm definitely going to fight for the job. It's up to the coaches, we'll see what happens. I definitely feel I have a chance. Usually in this tournament it's whoever is playing better at that moment when it comes to the starting goalie.