Jiri Kulich Post Skate | 05.07.2025
unique situation in the you know in the postseason two week long break. How do you stay rested and fresh and not rusty? Uh uh obviously it’s it’s hard you know uh not playing for two weeks but uh the positive thing is uh we have work to do and um getting ready for for the game like to take the next step to get you know Devin called it you know fight one’s over but getting ready for the second fight excitement level again going up against the top team in the league. Uh I mean no one cares about uh the first series. So uh that’s in the past and now we have to focus on uh on Laval. So uh yeah uh fight two is two is here and can’t wait. You stay fresh off the ice and away from the ice. With two weeks off, you can’t just sit and think about hockey 24/7. What are you doing to keep your mind occupied during this long break? uh you know uh spending a lot of time with the boys and uh yeah uh with with Russian and his apartment too. So uh just you know just having fun, take care of our bodies and uh yeah no video games anymore. No, no, no, no. Uh I put my PS5 on my baggage and I didn’t focus. Yeah. Are you going? I don’t know. Just like I said, uh you never know when it’s the last chance to uh to play play also. Uh just want to enjoy it. Spending time with the boys at your night planned. Are you excited about movie night? I never heard about it. My bad. My bad. Sorry. Or your bad. Spilled beans. My bad. And they’re seeing count tomorrow. So, I want to see a movie tomorrow. Nah, don’t know. Don’t know yet. Tomorrow’s day off, so you mentioned focusing and and you know, being ready for the playoffs. You never know when you’re going to be back in the playoffs as you mentioned, but how much fun was last series and how much fun has just getting prepared for next week been as well? Uh, I mean, just be with the boys, you know? Uh like I said early uh we know that we have each other’s back and that’s the most important thing in the playoffs and uh yeah for me u I’m just having fun with the boys. So um can’t wait for for next year. You obviously you know weren’t here in Rochester for much of the season. What have the guys been catching you up on uh with the ball heading into next week? I know it’s early but still uh you know L is a good team. Um I play against them uh early in the season and uh they have really good team. So we have to prepare for uh for that and uh work hard and yeah same as the first year just uh have each other’s back and uh play play hard. Go ahead. Oh, sorry. Hey. Um, what are some things you’ve learned in the NHL this season that are helping you compete in the playoffs down in the AHL? Maybe ways you’ve improved as a player since since October, September. Um, I would say probably everything. Um, you know, start with the Done. Uh, for check uh being net front, make it hard for the goalies and uh, uh, yeah, just just compete and compete. Um, that’s I think that’s the main uh main key. And have your Rochester teammates been coming to you at all to learn about your experience, things you learned, and just what it’s like playing in the NHL now that you’re back with them? Um, not not really. Um, you know, um, it’s not a lot lot of question how was it in NHL? It’s just uh I’m here and um we know each other. So uh yeah uh I don’t really know what to answer. Sorry. When you talked with after the end of the NHL season, what was in that discussion maybe that you guys maybe agreed upon for you to focus on your time here in Rochester and how do you feel like you’ve gone about doing that? Um I mean the focus was just just play my game. uh you know uh compete really hard and um just help the team uh to win. So um I’m trying my best to to do everything for this team. And uh yeah, coach said he felt you really start to get to your game in game three. Probably the best I played since you’ve been down here. Is that something that you felt and do you feel like now as you head into this next series, you’re finally back in a little bit more of a groove? Oh. Oh yeah, that’s for sure. uh you know uh I had confident but uh still it’s it’s uh pretty hard and tough uh um to get back here and um it’s different hockey too. Uh so um it takes some times
