HKM Zvolen - HC Košice 1:2 (0:1, 0:0, 1:1)

Goals and assistance: 60. Šišovský (Puliš) - 13. Šoltés (Šedivý), 50. Spilar (Pacan, Dudáš)

Penalized players: 1:2 for (2) minutes, power plays: 0:0, defense plays: 0:0, referees: Kubuš, Baluška - Tvrdoň, Šefčík, 1325 divákov

HKM Zvolen: MacIntyre (Šimko) – Drgoň, Ross, Ulrych, Kováčik, Ťavoda, Hraško, Bokroš, Zeleňák – Coffman, Ďaloga, Obdržálek – Šišovský, Kytnár, Marcinek – Puliš, Špirko, Flick – Matis, Fekiač, Síkela

HC Košice: Habal (Škorvánek) – Ovčačík, Dudáš, Čížek, Šedivý, Koch, Pulli, Michalčin – Spilar, Pacan, Jenčík – Miklík, Klíma, Kafka – Hričina, Boltun, Šoltés – Hudák, Petráš, Novotný

Besides Nagy and Hovorka currently playing at the Olympics and injured Bača and Matejka Košice missed in Zvolen also the sick players Kessel, Koyš, and Vrábeľ.

The smash of the round between Zvolen and Košice brought an attractive hockey match from its very beginning. After several blocked passes Šoltés had the first chance, but he did not manage to overcome the goalman of Zvolen. On the other side Matis presented himself by great technical finish, but Habal moved to the further pole of the net and supported the Steelers. Visitors saw the first goal in the thirteenth minute, when our two skaters were rolling against MacIntyre. Šoltés took over the responsibility and rippled the net by the prompt finish. Therefore, the team of Košice went to the locker rooms with one-goal lead.

Also the second period brought agile hockey full of goal chances. In the 28th minute Kafka had a chance to add the second accurate hit of his team, but he was not successful against the goalman. On the other side the pass of Hraško was then taken over by Kytnár. He decided to finish and the puck closely missed the area of the three poles. Still before the break Miklík and Obdržálek burnt their chances so the second period did not bring a goal.

In the third period the team of Zvolen was determined to equalize the score, but it was Košice who was dictating the pace of the game. The first greater chance of this part of the game belonged to the Steelers, specifically to Miklík. He pulled out the goalman from his net, but still did not manage to send the puck to the net. Then only Spilar managed to score, who overcame helpless MacIntyre by great ending. As far as Košice, Miklík might have scored and adjust to 3:0, but he was unsuccessful against the goalman. The list of shooters was then supplemented by Šišovský in the last minute and he reduced the lead of Košice. After the result of 2:1 in our favor we gained three important points to the chart.

Peter Mikula, Coach of Zvolen: “In today's match we slept through the first period, which our opponent used and scored. Košice were then excellently covering the central zone and they were good at defending as well. So it was very hard for us to get a chance. Košice deserves the victory.”

Marcel Šimurda, Coach of Košice: “Today we played a disciplined, team focused and devoted hockey. The boys accurately observed our instructions, for which I am thankful.  And everything was underlined by great performance of Habal.”