Jesper Fast before the Stanley Cup semi-finals
Las vigas. When reporting on Jesper Fast, the New York Island and New Jersey Devils scouts may have forgotten to warn about the danger of scoring
This mistake best not be repeated by those who are supposed to report to Florida before the conference finals.
Not only did Jesper decide two games in the opening rounds of the playoffs – he now shares the top spot in the indoor scoring league with Sebastian Ahu.
– You have to step up when it’s the qualifiers, says the 31-year-old from Småland to Sportbladet.
Of course, it was not surprising that the offensive danger of the Fast Jesper was not highlighted in red pen in the first scout reports.
Not like Nässjö’s top scorer has a man in the world’s top hockey league sat in respect for the past decade. He is like a clever, quick, strong, tireless warrior who wins imp duels, toils like a galley slave along the edges and always helps to strengthen defensive positions.
but in fact:
During the opening innings against the Islanders and Devils, the low-key 31-year-old kicked five goals, two of which were absolutely decisive in sudden death, thus tying that stake for first in the Indoor Shooting League.
– Yes, perhaps no one expected that. neither do I. But, he says on the phone from his home in Raleigh the night before the first round of the conference finals against Florida it’s certainly fun to lay down some pucks.
At the same time, we have a lot of injuries and we’re missing some of our usual goalscorers. Then the others have to go up. I did it, as did many others.
“You can’t lose it”
What’s needed in the playoffs, “Quickie,” as it’s known in North America, knows it all.
He has played in the NHL for most of his career and several times has tasted major success, especially with the New York Rangers in 2015.
– Yeah, we made it to the Conference Finals and lost to Tampa in Game 7. At the time, I thought obviously I’d be a part of it again, but only a few years later we missed the playoffs completely, he says.
It can go really fast and you never really know how many chances you’ll get. So the ones you actually get, you have to take care of. That’s what me and others who’ve been there for a while are trying to preach to our younger players right now. You can’t miss this kind of opportunity.
Because there is no doubt now. After ten years in the NHL—seven with the Rangers, three with the Hurricanes—Jesper is hungry for a Stanley Cup.
– Absolutely. That’s it, that’s why you’re doing it. Like I said, I’ve been here for ten years now and then, there are no guarantees you’ll get too many chances. So I really want to win now.
“It’s going to be hard”
For that to happen, Carolina must first cross the Florida hurdle, and even if she is a slight favorite, wise Jesper knows it won’t be easy.
– They beat both Boston and Toronto, and that says it all, they’re undeniably good. He says it will be difficult.
– But even if we play almost the same thing, we have a plan of how we can go against them and we hope it works.
They also have an unexpectedly great goalscorer from Nässjö – and that can go a long way.