FANTASTIC FINISH SEALS VICTORY!

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Severstal Cherepovets 3:2 (1:0, 0:1, 2:1) 

Goals: 13. L. Hudáček (A. Šťastný), 53. Sersen (L. Hudáček, Radivojevič), 59. Bartovič (Miklík) - 29. Videll (Berdnikov, Nikontsev), 51. Bumagin (Kovyrshin, Kazakovtsev). 

Penalties: 7:5 (2 min.), Powerplay & Shorthanded Goals: 0:0. Officials: Kiselyov, Tsyplakov - Gordenko, Tomilov. Attendance: 9,886.

Lineups: 
HC SLOVAN: Janus - Sersen, Sigalet, Škoula, Kutlák, Mojžíš, Štajnoch, V. Mihálik - Miklík, Bližňák, Vondrka - Netík, Ölvecký, Bartovič - Radivojevič, A. Šťastný, L. Hudáček - M. Daňo, Matoušek, M. Bakoš 
Severstal: Štěpánek - Guskov, Andersén, Kiselevich, Čáslava, Stasenko, Yevseyenkov - Nikontsev, Bushuyev, Videll - Zherdev, Berdnikov, Stolyarov - Kazakovtsev, Kovyrshin, Zemchenko - Bumagin, Antipov, Gogolev

The first major chance of the encounter fell to captain Bartovič, but goaltender Štěpánek dealt with his effort from the right circle. Radivojevič soon tested the Czech as well, but he too missed out, as did Daňo seconds later. At the other end, Janus smothered Videll‘s shot. Slovan then played the first of five fruitless powerplays, followed by the first of seven for Severstal after Bližňák’s foul. The home fans rejoiced in the 13^th minute thanks to Libor Hudáček, who opened the score with his first goal of the season. His shot from between the circles was saved, but he cleaned up from the rebound – 1:0. The goal marked Slovan’s first ever against Cherepovets in the KHL, having lost 0:6, 0:3 and 0:2 in their three meetings to date. The visitors could have drawn level in the first period, chances falling to Guskov, Zherdev and Berdnikov, but Janus proved equal to them all.

In the 25^th minute, defenseman Štajnoch let off a shot from the blue line, but Štěpánek made the save and put the puck back in play. In the 29^th, an opponent lay prostrate on the ice, Slovan appeared to stop playing, and Videll seized the chance to fire in the equalizer from Berdnikov’s pass – 1:1. Bližňák then had the go-ahead goal in his sights, but his shot from the left side found only the back board. Vondrka and Daňo had further chances, but Štěpánek stood firm.

The dismissal of Mojžíš early in the third period presented Stolyarov with a good chance, but Janus made the save, and then caught Kazakovtsev’s shot when even-handed. Radivojevič bore down on goal in the 49^th minute, but couldn’t find the target. Punishment was swift – Janus blocked Bumagin’s effort well, but he somehow managed to flick the rebound home from the tightest of angles – 1:2. Thankfully, the equalizer wasn’t long in coming – Hudáček crossed to Sersen on the blue line, and his first time shot beat Štěpánek at the near post – 2:2. Slovan then applied the pressure, and the winning goal came less than two minutes from the end. Miklík found Bartovič between the circles, and he fired into the top right corner 3:2. Cherepovets pulled the goalie late on, but couldn’t find a way through, leaving Slovan with all three points.

Rostislav Čada: “We really wanted to win today – I could sense it on the players in the locker room. We started well and scored. Strength of will and greater emotion gave us a deserved victory. Our good penalty killing also decided it, as well as a superb performance from Janus in goal.”