Slovan secure playoff spot!

Spartak Moscow – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 3:4 after overtime (0:0, 2:3, 1:0 - 0:1)

Goals: 28. Suglobov (Radivojevič, Kozlov), 30. Nikoncev (Ankudinov) - 22. Kukumberg (Tabaček), 29. Bartovič (Tabaček), 37. Mikúš (Štajnoch, Švarný), 62, Bartovič

Penalties: 1:3, powerplay goals: 0:0, shorthanded goals: 0:0, officials: Gašilov, Cyplakov - Michajevič, Nesterov

Rosters:
Spartak Moscow: Lašák - Vasiljev, Obšut, Šefer, Želdakov, Mamkin, Kulik, Demidov - Suglobov, Kozlov, Radivojevič - Nikoncev, Bušujev, Želdakov - Michailov, Bobrov, Medvedev - Pugolovkin, Denežkin, Voronin - Jerdakov
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus - Sigalet, Sersen, Vondrka, J. Mikúš Miklík - Mojžíš, Tabaček - Bartovič, Bližňák, Kukumberg - Švarný, Štajnoch, Hudáček, Kytnár, Bakoš - Preisinger, Šťastný, T. Mikúš, Ölvecký, Daňo

Wednesday’s game began with the home side looking threatening during an early powerplay after Michal Vondrka took a penalty, however, Janus was never severely threatened. On the other hand, in the 3rd minute Libor Hudáček had a good chance, but Ján Lašák was equal to the shot. In the 8th minute Kytnár had a good chance on Lašák, but failed to find the back of the net. Spartak did create more chances as the period went on, with Zheldakov and Mikhailov getting opportunities to score, but Janus kept both of the Spartak players off the scoresheet.

The second period saw the goals start to flow. HC SLOVAN got on the board first as a brilliant pass from Ján Tabaček, who had joined the rush, found Roman Kukumberg streaking in alone on the goal, and some quick moves opened up the goal for Kukumberg to score. Three minutes later, Miklik had a great chance to double HC SLOVAN’s advantage, but his finish was found wanting. HC SLOVAN’s lead lasted all of six minutes, as Suglobov fired a quick shot which eluded Janus. A minute later though, HC SLOVAN restored their lead, as Milan Bartovič found the back of the net. However, the lead did not last long once again, this time Spartak needing only a minute to equalise through Nikontsev. However, before the end of the period, HC SLOVAN would find the back of the net once more, as Juraj Mikúš opened his HC SLOVAN account with a wicked wrist shot that went into the top corner.

A slow start to the third period came to bite HC SLOVAN on the backside, as in the opening minute of the period, Vyacheslav Kozlov was left open in front of Janus, and had all the time in the world to pick his spot and beat the HC SLOVAN netminder with a backhand shot. This gave the home side the momentum, and HC SLOVAN had to desperately protect their goal in the minutes after. It was not until the 51st minute, where a good chance for Ölvecký went begging that the away side got into the final period. The game was poised on a knife edge as the minutes ticked down, and the game would eventually go to an extra frame.

The overtime began with both teams playing cautious hockey, However, HC SLOVAN would be the team to grab the extra point. Mário Bližňák’s drop pass went right on the tape of Milan Bartovič, who picked his spot and fired a hard wrist shot which lit the lamp to the delight of the few travelling fans and the HC SLOVAN Bratislava players.

Later on that evening, while in the dressing room, news came through that due to Donbass Donetsk’s shootout loss to CSKA Moscow, HC SLOVAN Bratislava had officially clinched a playoff spot, which sparked celebrations following the game.