HC Košice
Round 42
5 : 2
(1:0, 1:0, 3:2)
HC '05 B. Bystrica

Goals and assists: 19. Lamper (Brittain, Surový), 34. Lamper (Češík), 43. Gabor (Bortňák), 54. Faille (Bortňák), 55. Surový - 42. Suja (Spilar, Jenčík), 57. Spilar

Excluded players: 4:3 for two minutes, power plays: 0:0, defence play: 1:0, referee Hejduk, Mrkva – Rampír, Smrek, 2763 visitors

HC 05 iClinic Banská Bystrica: Lassila (Lukáš) – Ďatelinka (A), Kubka, Gélinas, Sedlák, Mihalik, Rosandič, Košecký – Brittain, Surový (C). Lamper – Bartánus, Bubela, Hohmann – Asselin, Faille (A), Giľak – Bortňák, Češík, Gabor – Kabáč

HC Košice: Lundström (Habal) – Kessel, Dudáš, Šedivý, Ovčačík, Michalčin, Pulli, Koch – Miklík, Pacan, Nagy (C) – Spilar (A), Suja, Jenčík (A) – Kafka, Boltun, Šoltés – Hričina, Vrábeľ, Petráš – Novotný

Match on the champion's ice rink brought interesting moments from the very beginning of this fight. The first goal chance came in the 5th minute, by the forgotten Pulli, but facing the home goaltender, he only managed to hit his catch glove.  Just a few seconds later, Asseling showed great activity and almost managed to place a goal into the opposite net, but Lundström didn't give him a chance. The 8th minute, which brought chances on the both sides did not bring a change in the score as well. At first, Suja's shot was diverted from the circles by Lassila, and right after that, Bartánus didn't succeed during his solo-breakaway against the goaltender of Košice. A minute later, home team players found themselves once again alone facing Lundströmom, but the puck jumped over Faille's hockey stick and, too bad for the team, he didn't strike. During the second 10 minutes, Nagy had the chance to open the score by hitting strike of Michalčin, however he wasn't successful as well. On the opposite part of the ice rink, in the 16th minute, the players of Banská Bystrica rushed out to outnumber the opponent, but Lundström managed to support his team. Finally, the home team opened the score in the 18th minute, when Brittain found utterly free Patrik Lamper in front of the net and he couldn't hesitate. Dressing rooms were entered with score 1:0 for Banská Bystrica.

We could see great activity of both teams during the second period as well, and a match full of goal chances. First chance on the hockey stick of Asselin, who picked over an interesting pass, but he was unsuccessful against Lundström in his subsequent breakaway. On the other side of the ice rink, Košice played a very good power play, what was demonstrated by Nagy and his finishing strike. However, goaltender of Banská Bystrica didn't let Nagy surprise him and covered the shot. Lassila was active also by the chance of Pacan, whom the puck bounced away at the last moment, and therefore he wasn't able to shoot better. The score changed in the 34th minute, again on the credit of Lamper. He escaped during the defense play of Banská Bystrica and he altered the score to 2:0 by placing a goal into Joakim Lundström's net for the benefit of Muttons. Košice players could change the situation just before the break, when Suja was in a great chance of scoring. He fired 2 times, but both of his shots were stopped by careful Lassil. Therefore, the home team players might have been much more satisfied after the first 2 periods.

The Steelers entered the 3rd period with the intention to score as quickly as possible and to fight for the points. Only one minute and 14 seconds was enough for them to overcome Lassil and therefore return to the match. Suja took care of the precise shot, by making the best of the pass from Spilar. However, the visitors didn't enjoy it for a long time as in the end of the 43th minute the players of Banská Bystrica responded by placing a goal into the net of Joakim Lundström. This time, it was Gabor who scored, and he brought the necessary support for the home team. The Steelers subsequently had many good chances, the one of Jenčík is worth mentioning, when our forward squeezed in front of Lassil, but he didn't manage to score. Later, Faille and Surový showed their skills and therefore the home team lead 5:1. Spilar brought the final score 5:2 in the 57th minute.

Vladimír Országh, coach of Banská Bystrica: "Today, we could see very good and quick offensive hockey from both teams. A huge support for our team was our goaltender Lassila, who helped us out in the crucial moments. We really appreciate our victory against Košice."

Marcel Šimurda, coach of Košice: "We lost after a line of victories. That's hockey, unfortunately. We didn't get this match under control, we did not grab our chances and we lacked the hockey luck."

GALLERY