Vice world champion Peterka takes off in the NHL
John-Jason Peterka is already developing into a top forward in the NHL at the age of 21. The World Championship silver medal with the national team gave him confidence. After just over a third of the NHL season, he has already scored twelve goals, the same number as at the end of last season.
Decorated with World Championship silver, celebrated as a goal scorer in the NHL: John-Jason Peterka is experiencing a furious start to his career. But the national ice hockey player misses one thing. "When I see how much snow there is in Munich - I'd love to stroll around the Christmas market," says the 21-year-old. In Buffalo, where the Munich native is living his NHL dream, it hasn't even snowed yet. Not to mention Christmas markets - "we don't have them here." But there has been a strong start to the season for the German, who has already become a key player in his second year with the Sabres with the self-confidence of a world championship runner-up.
Twelve goals have already been scored after just over a third of the NHL season - the same number as in the entire previous season. Together with top forward Jeff Skinner, he is the Sabres' most prolific scorer. "Things are just going in more this year," says Peterka, "it has a lot to do with the fact that I'm shooting more, creating more chances, getting more passes into the slot."
"Of course I was angry"
But above all, it also has to do with the fact that the forward from the Red Bull youth academy in Buffalo is getting significantly more ice time, including on the power play. No wonder, as Peterka returned to the USA before the start of the season not only as runner-up at the World Championships, but also as the best forward at the World Championships and top scorer in the German team. "I received a lot of congratulations," he reports, "I appeared more confident, the others perceived me as a better player."
Perhaps national coach Harold Kreis also contributed to this when he left the NHL youngster on the bench for a third of the World Championship because he didn't like his style of play. "I don't hold grudges," says Peterka with a grin: "Of course I was angry, but in hindsight everything was perfect, the way he did it, the way he got us into the final. That's why I don't want to complain."
Worked hard on his defensive play
After the World Cup, he mainly worked on his defensive skills. "I watched a lot of clips. It has a lot to do with positional play, that was a deficiency last year and I've improved a lot." Peterka showed how important he already is for the Sabres with his leading goals in the away wins against the top favorites New York Rangers (5:1) and Boston Bruins (3:1). He also scored a goal in the 5-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes. But because Buffalo mainly suffered defeats all around, the play-offs are further away than expected. Last season, they were just one point short, "after that we kind of thought it would just happen this year and we wouldn't have to do much to get there," says Peterka, "we're not working hard enough."
There will be a reunion with the Rangers the day before Christmas Eve - again at Madison Square Garden. A good opportunity to catch up on what has been missed so far. Because Peterka wants to stay there with some of his colleagues over the holidays: "There are Christmas markets in New York."
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Despite his success in the NHL with twelve goals in just over a third of the season, John-Jason Peterka misses the Christmas markets and snowfall of his hometown Munich. His impressive performance in the NHL follows his silver medal win at the World Championship, where he also led as the top scorer and best forward for the German team.
Source: www.ntv.de
