Splendid Performance! Slovan Outguns SKA!

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - SKA St Petersburg 5:2 (1:0, 1:0, 3:2)

Goals: 18. Hudáček (Murley), 28. Tičar (Barker, Nagy), 44. Mihálik (Hudáček, Bartovič), 59. Nagy (Murley, Brejčák), 60. Baranka - 48. Thoresen (penalty shot), 57. Červenka (Kovalchuk). Officials: Jeřábek, Sergeyev - Balodis, Birin.

Penalties: 4:2, Powerplay Goals: 1:0, Shorthanded: 0:0. Attendance: 9,954.
      
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Backlund - Sersen, Baranka, Brejčák, Barker, Mihálik - Jeglič, Tičar, Nagy - Hudáček, Murley, Bartovič - Netík, Šťastný, Rehák
SKA Petrohrad: Koskinen - Rukavishnikov, Belov, Kuteikin, Alexandrov, Khafizullin, Chudinov, Yudin, Yermakov - Červenka, Ericsson, Kovalchuk - Dadonov, Shipachov, Ketov - Tikhonov, Martensson, Thoresen - Ponikarovsky, Khokhryakov, Burdasov
      

In the first period, Slovan played a worthy hand against the favourites. Thanks to greater technical and skating ability, St Petersburg created shooting opportunities, but most were from the middle range, and Backlund kept out the more dangerous chances. He was forced into action within 20 seconds, making the catch from Kovalchuk's effort, then Červenka kept him busy with an unexpected touch and a backhand effort. The Sky Blues patiently broke up the visitors' attacks on the blue line, and seized on opportunities to break forward. One such chance fell to Šťastný in the 12th minute, but his effort posed no problem for Koskinen. Slovan successfully defended when shorthanded, even catching SKA out on the break in the 17th, but Netík failed to convert a promising chance. The home side put that right a minute later, making immediate use of a powerplay of their own. Koskinen could only parry Murley's effort, and  Hudáček didn't need to be asked twice - 1:0.

Slovan kicked on in the middle period, and could have added a second early on. 2 on 1, Nagy played in Tičar, but he found the side netting. The hosts then rode out further shorthanded  periods, then set up another sitter in the 26th minute, but this time Barker shot straight at Koskinen from between the circles. The favourites didn't take the threat seriously, and duly paid the price two minutes later. Tičar got a touch on Barker's shot from the blue line, and Slovan had a sensational two-goal lead. St Petersburg were clearly stunned, as their combinations lacked the speed and incisiveness of the first period, while the home team spread their wings and showed real confidence in attack. Thoresen came at Backlund in the 36th, but gained nothing, as did Nagy at the other end.

SKA started the final period with a chance from Ericsson, but the alert Backlund kept his clean sheet intact for the time being. Slovan continued their patient gameplay, holding back more, waiting for chances to break. One such worked out for them in the 44th minute, a text-book exchange between Bartovič and Hudáček serving up defenseman Mihálik, who made it 3-0. The visitors responded with full-out offense; Dadonov carved out a super chance, and Tichonov made a dangerous touch soon after, but the ever-vigilant Backlund made further telling interventions, while Ketov missed the target from a promising position. In the 48th minute, Mihálik hooked Thoresen in front of goal, and the referees awarded a penalty shot, which the Norwegian calmed slotted between Backlund's pads - 3:1. SKA then woke up a little more, Červenka forcing Backlund to make the save in the 52nd. Bartovič then had a chance to seal the victory, but his finish hit the post. When Netík was penalised in the 55th minute, the St Petersburg coach pulled the goalie to send in a sixth skater, but the home team defended well and kept the fans excited with several long clearances that just missed the empty net. Červenka then ensured late drama with a crucial touch less than four minutes from time - 3:2 - but Slovan managed to ride out the storm, Thoresen just missing the target late on. With the goalie pulled once again, Slovan put the icing on the cake with goals into the empty net from Nagy and Baranka - 5:2.

      
Petri Matikainen, Slovan head coach: "It's really good to beat an opponent as strong as St Petersburg. We played an excellent game; all three lines performed equally well. My players deserve reocgnition for how they played today, and how they've handled a difficult situation. I wish our opponents well in the playoffs."
Vjačeslav Bykov, tréner SKA: "Congratulations to our opponents on their victory. Slovan had more heart and showed more emotion, therefore they deserved to win."