HC Košice
Round 40
2 : 4
(1:1, 0:1, 1:2)
MHK 32 L. Mikuláš

Goals and assistance: 6. R. Rapáč (Huna, Paukovček), 42. M. Sukeľ (J. Sukeľ, Nádašdi) – 10. Kafka (Hovorka, Šedivý), 22. Pulli (Suja, Spilar), 43. Nagy (Pacan, Kessel), 52. Nagy

Penalized players: 4:7 for (2) minutes, power plays: 0:1, defense plays: 0:1 referees: Štefik, Jonák – Synek, Výleta, 1,464 visitors

MHK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš Hollý – Gründling, Moravčík, Suchý, Pacalaj, Mezovský, Nádašdi, Bača – Števuliak, Laghammer, Huna – R. Rapáč, Paukovček, B. Rapáč – J. Sukeľ, M. Sukeľ, Kriška – Uhrík, Piatka, Laco

HC Košice: Habal – Dudáš, Kessel, Šedivý, Čížek, Ovčačík, Pulli, Petráš, Koch – Miklík, Pacan, Nagy – Kafka, Hovorka, Šoltés – Spilar, Suja, Jenčík – Klíma, Boltun, Vrábeľ

In the beginning of the duel in Liptov, Košice was the more active team. As a result of Nagy's effort after several seconds of the game the team of Košice was attacking in the opponent's defense zone and checked awareness of the goalman Hollý. But it was the opponent who scored, right after the end of power play of Liptovský Mikuláš. Huna received the puck and his shot was placed by Richard Rapáč behind powerless Habal in Košice's net. But Liptov players enjoyed their lead only until the end of the tenth minute, when the Steelers from Košice were playing their power play. During the power play Hovorka contacted Kafka, who equalized to 1:1. Before the break the score remained unchanged despite several good chances on both sides.

Also the beginning of the middle period belonged to the players of Košice, who managed to score after less than two minutes of the game. It was Pulli, who received an ideal pass and hit the unguarded part of Hollý's net. Then Šedivý as well as Nagy wanted to adjust the score to 1:3, but the goalman of Liptovský Mikuláš remained calm and handled both situations well. On the side of the opponent Števuliak could have equalized, he was in ideal position but did not hit the puck right, so his shot ended-up on the rear barrier only. Before the break also Uhrík was shooting, but also his ending did not mean a threat to Habala.

The third period continued similar as the previous two and brought fast and agile hockey on both sides. Both teams used their first chance in this part of the game. First, Matúš Sukeľ equalized to 2:2. The home team enjoyed the even score exactly one minute. But in the half of the 43rd minute, after individual action, Nagy scored. The captain of Košice afterwards in the 52nd minute ensured the lead of the Steelers and Košice was leading by two goals. Then the score remained unchanged, after the victory 4:2 we added three points to the chart.

Pavol Paukovček, Coach of Liptovský Mikuláš: “We played a balanced match with Košice. But individual failures decided the match, there were more of them on our side so our opponent is taking three points with them.”

Marcel Šimurda, Coach of Košice: “When we traveled to Liptov we realized that there would be a difficult match ahead of us, which eventually was confirmed. The key moment was our goal to 3:2, afterwards we managed to guard our victory.”