HC Košice
Round 37
1 : 2 pp
(0:0, 0:0, 1:1 - 0:1)
HC Nové Zámky

Goals and assistance: 51. Zbořil (Plášil, Saulietis) - 43. Vrábeľ (Petráš, Šedivý), 62. Hovorka (Šedivý, Kafka)

Penalized players: 2:5 for (2) minutes, power plays: 1:0, penalty kill: 0:0 referees: Goga, J. Konc – Orolin, Synek

HC Nové Zámky: Baroš (Romančík) – Látal, Salija, Novák, Plášil, Jass, Hruška, Vidovič, Šimek – Varga, Novotný, Cetkovský – Zbořil, Šimun, Saulietis – Lantoši, Škoda, Lorraine – Fábry, Rehák, Tužinský

HC Košice: Habal (Lundström) – Kessel, Čížek, Koch, Šedivý, Pulli, Michalčin, Novotný, Pavúk – Nagy, Boltun, Spilar – Suja, Hovorka, Kafka – Jenčík, Pacan, Šoltés – Klíma, Vrábeľ, Petráš

Already in the beginning of the first period Košice had an advantage of a power play. However, they did not play according to their intentions. On the contrary, they were even threatened by Lantoši, who had a chance to score. Also the second chance belonged to the home team, in the fifth minute Šimun caught Pulli’s shot, so Habala's attention was tested. On the other side we saw a great job of Nagy, who got to the puck, and tried to find Spilar, who was in better position. But the pass did not get to our fast playing forward. Already before the break Novák missed his chance, he did not score from the blue line. So after 20 minutes the score was still 0:0.

The beginning of the middle part belonged to our hockey-players. They were the more active team right away, which was demonstrated by Kafka after Hovorka's pass. However, this shot closely missed the area of the three poles. Then there was a Kessel's shot, which was caught by Baroš's glove and then Šoltés's chance. He wanted to finish Jenčík's shot, however he did not manage to do it from the immediate vicinity. Then Nové Zámky had an advantage of a two-minute power play, we were short of two players, however Košice defense handled it without significant problems. Yet before the break we saw also Pacan's chance. He pushed himself in front of Baroš, but the structure of the domestic net played against him.

Košice entered the last period with an aim to lead and get close to gaining three points. They managed to do it pretty fast, at the end of the 43th minute Vrábeľ scored. Also Boltun wanted to score, bud he placed Kessel's puck only close to the net poles. We were leading up to the 51st minute, because Zbořil presented himself with a power play goal, so the score was even again. Then we saw missed chances of Lantoši, Šoltés, and Pacan. The score did not change, so extension followed.
During the extension we managed to decide everything in the second minute, because Marek Hovorka placed Šedivý's pass to the net. So we are bringing two points from Nové Zámky.

Ladislav Lubina, Coach of Nové Zámky: “Unfortunately we did not use our two-minute power play five against three, which cost us two points. Overall I do not think that today's match would be of poor quality. The supporters must have enjoyed it. Finally, we are glad for one point.

Marcel Šimurda, Coach of Košice: “In the first period our opponent was better, but from the second period we started to skate well and had chances. The final period brought our leading goals as well as our power play action. The opponent did not use a chance during the extension, we did. Therefore, we are leaving with two points.