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Tomas Plekanec’s loaded Czech squad has Canadiens-like pressure to win

Montreal Canadiens v Ottawa Senators

OTTAWA, CANADA - MARCH 16: Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens stickhandles the puck against a defending Matt Gilroy #97 of the Ottawa Senators during an NHL game at Scotiabank Place on March 16, 2012 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)

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For most players who have gone to Europe to play hockey during the lockout, it’s almost like an escape from the pressure of playing in the NHL. For Tomas Plekanec, playing for HC Kladno in the Czech Extraliga it’s eerily similar to playing in Montreal.

Chris Johnston of The Canadian Press hears about how playing with a team with six other NHL stars amps up the pressure at home.

“When you don’t score for two games, it’s in the papers,” said Plekanec. “Every team basically we play against, if they beat us it’s like they won the Olympics or Stanley Cup almost.”

With teammates like team owner Jaromir Jagr, Tomas Kaberle, Jiri Tlusty, and Marek Zidlicky you can understand why Kladno fans would be so intently focused on how the team is doing.

With the team in fifth place right now, you can imagine the press is starting to get a bit grumpy. If things get bad enough maybe he’ll start to miss the Montreal microscope.

Nah...