HC Košice - HK Nitra 2:5 (0:3, 1:1, 1:1)

Goals and assists: 23. Boltun (Miklík, Šedivý), 57. Pacan (Nagy, Koch) - 24. Bradley (J. Ručkay, Versteeg) 9. Csányi (Šiška), 13. Blackwater (J. Milam, Kovacs), 18. Krištof (Paulovič, Mezei), 41. Kovacs (J. Milam)

Penalized players: 2:4 for two minutes, also Pulli (KOS - 10 minutes for checking to the head and neck area), power plays: 1:1, defense play: 0:0, referee Stano, Kubuš – Výleta, Smrek, 4402 visitors

HC Košice: Habal (18. Lundström) – Kessel, Šedivý, Koch, Pulli, Michalčin, Ovčačík, Novotný – Miklík, Pacan, Nagy (C) – Koyš, Hovorka (A), Šoltés – Klíma, Boltun, Jenčík (A) – Hričina, Vrábeľ, Petráš

HK Nitra: Lawson (Foltán) – Mezei (C), T. Milam, Ordzovenský, J. Milam (A), Rýgl, Versteeg, Korím, Pupák – Paulovič, Krištof (A), H. Ručkay – Blackwater, Slovák, Kovacs – J. Ručkay, Bradley, Macík – Csányi, Šiška, Rzavský

Košice played a demanding match, without 7 key players from its basic lineup. The injured Bača, Čížek and Matejka were joined by Kafka after the match against Trenčín, Dudáš, Spilar ani Suja did not play in the match against Nitra due to illness.

The high number of absenting players showed itself in the 1st period. During the introductory minutes of the match, The Steelers determined the tempo of the game, and with a little bit of luck and probably a little bit more accurate shots, they could even get into leading position, however, it did not happen. Finally, we had to wait for a goal until the 9th minute, when Csányi opened the score. Miklík wanted to respond, but after his solo-action, the puck only hit the back barrier. Nitra asked for the word again, and in the 13th minute Blackwater scored a power-play goal. Before the end of the period, Krištof added his name to the list of strikers, and increased to 0:3 and the players left the ice with this score.

The opening minutes of the middle period of the full regulation time belonged to The Steelers again, as they tried to form a forward action, this time, fortunately, with greater success. In the 23rd minute, Boltun took the opportunity of the power play, and changed the score to 1:3. However, exactly one minute and 6 seconds later, Nitra enjoyed their goal, as they managed to overcome the substituting goaltender Lundström. By the end of the break, we also saw the chance of Marek Slovák. He skated right in front of the net and stroke without any preparation. Yet, Swedish goalie was careful and did not let him alter the score. After 40 minutes of the match, we were losing 1:4.

Unfortunately, the great effort of the Steelers did not bring any miracles during the final 10 minutes. The opposite is true. In the end of the 41st minute Kovacs got into a striking position and his shot made the net of Košice wave for the 5th time. Neither Hovorka was able to handle the 4-goal leadership of Nitra, even if he endangered their goalie several times. Finally, Pacan was successful and added Košice's 2nd goal. All in all, Nitra gained 3 important points after the victory over Košice ending with score 5:2.

Roman Šimíček, the coach of Košice: "I am really sorry about the final score. The players, who got a chance to play in today's match, could prove themselves on the ice. Unfortunately, during the first period, we were not successful at all, and we had to catch up on the opponent who got into 3-goal leading. Today, many guys played with a huge self-denial, otherwise, we might not have been able to bring a team together.

Antonín Stavjaňa: "I really appreciate today's victory, but I do not want to over-estimate it. Košice just paid for the number of injured players. Moreover, the fact that this match wasn't very successful, is true for their goalies as well, and thus, today, we gain the points.