HC Košice - DVTK Jegesmedvék Miškovec 4:2 (1:1, 0:0, 3:1)

Goals and assists: 15. Nagy (Pulli, Brophey), 58. Suja (Pulli, Kafka), 60. Šoltés (Pretnar), 60. Kafka (Nagy) – 14. Vincze (Ritó), 58. Vas (Pance)

Penalized players: 3:4 for two minutes., also: Dudáš (KOS - 10 min. for boarding), power plays: 0:0, short-handed plays: 0:0, referees: Baluška, Müllner – Orolin, Smrek, 3946 spectators

HC Košice: Škorvánek (Habal) – Pretnar, Koch, Čížek, Pulli, Dudáš (A), Šedivý, Lenďák – Spilar (A), Brophey, Nagy (C) – Netík, Suja, Kafka – Hričina, Galamboš, Šoltés – Klíma, Krajňák, Žitný – Petráš

DVTK Miškovec: Duschek (Adorján) – Crawford, Slovák, Szirányi (A), Lada, Rusk, Milam – Miskolczi, Galanisz, Magosi (C) – Pance, Vas (A), Kulmala – Somogyi, Loiseau, Harrison – Ritó, Hajós, Vincze

Before the match opening, we witnessed a very nice event, when the CEO of HC Košice Rastislav Rusič and a member of the Board of Directors Miroslav Maďar awarded Jozef Franc with a memorial plaque. He was rewarded for amazing 28 years of couching Košice youth categories.

Despite the fact that both teams preferred defensive hockey during the match opening minutes, the spectators seemed to enjoy it. That is to say, that both defenses were having a hard time saving shots from more offensive forwards, as the puck moved from one side of the rink to the other very quickly. Therefore, we had to wait for a riskier shot on goal until 7th minute, when Dudáš fired a slap shot from the blue line. Despite of waving the net, the puck did not get in, and the score remained the same. It all changed in the 14th minute after the Steelers' mistake, when Vincze got too much space while facing Škovránok. He found the best striking position and overcame our goalie at ease. However, the Miškovec’s joy didn't take too long. Only 36 seconds later (14:17), Ladislav Nagy scored a goal to even the score. At the beginning of the 20th minute, the same player was trying to push Spilar forward at the boards, but his attempt was stopped by Duschek, who reflexively threw the puck back to game. So, we didn't take the lead before the break, and the score remained 1:1.

The middle period brought extremely defensive play with minimum chances on both sides. The biggest chance was in hands of Tomáš Netík for Košice, as he was awarded a penalty shot. Despite stunning David Duschek, Netík didn't score as the puck was stopped by the net construction, and the Steelers didn't take the lead. Despite getting a pass right in front of the goal-field, neither Miskolczi was successful as he found himself way too close to collect the puck on his stick, and it slipped out against the boards. The second period didn't bring goals, and the players left the ice with even score 1:1.

The aim of the 3rd period was clear for both teams - take the lead as soon as possible and boost self-esteem in the battle over 3 points. But the match continued and brought rather defensive game. The number of chances was very low. One of them turned up for Šoltés, when he was standing in Duschek's light, but the goalie finally looked the right direction and performed a chest save. On the other side of the rink, Somogyi could take the chance of Miškovec's 2 on 1 outnumbering, but luckily for us, he did not succeed. Tied score lasted up to 58th minute, until Vas scored for the visitors. Košice took it in their stride and scored an equalizer. Pulli fired from the blue line and Suja tipped his shot. Surprisingly, this was not the end. Šoltés scored a game-winning goal in the final minute and only 3 seconds before the end of the game, Kafka sealed our victory. We outscored Miškovec 4:2.