High Quality CSKA too much for Slovan

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - CSKA Moscow 1:4 (0:1, 0:1, 1:2)

Goals: 48. Vondrka - 14. Murshak (Prokhorkin, Artyukhin), 29. Stas (Denisov, Murshak), 50. Radulov (Grigorenko, Da Costa), 52. Grigorenko. Officials: Zakharenkov, Rönn - Otmakhov, Palei. Penalties: 3:3 (2 min.), Powerplay Goals: 0:0, Shorthanded: 0:0. Attendance: 10,055 (sold out)

HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Backlund - Sersen, Baranka, Foster, Sigalet, Starosta, Mihálik - Jeglič, Nedorost, Vondrka - Netík, Surový, Hudáček - Murley, Bližňák, Bartovič - White, Tičar, Šťastný
CSKA Moscow: Galimov - Denisov, Zaitsev, Panin, Kiselevich, Bondarev, Misharin, Yegorshev - Radulov, Da Costa, Grigorenko - Artyuchin, Prokhorkin, Murshak - Telegin, Stas, Andronov - Zhafyarov, Korotkov, Zharkov - Mamin

The hosts were without top scorer Nagy, who was replaced by Jeglič in the first line. From the start, Slovan had to defend against pressure from the favourites, but did not allow them clear chances. CSKA came closer in two powerplays both thanks to Mihalik's fouls. In the 6th minute they had the puck in the net, but the goal was disallowed due to Artyukhin's position in the goalmouth. From the 10th minute, Slovan played their first powerplay, but failed to threaten Galimov. The visitors opened the scoring in the 14th - Prokhorkin won a contest with Tičar by the boards and swept the puck at the target. Backlund blocked the shot, but could do nothing to stop Muršak with the follow up - 0:1. Nedorost did have a chance for Slovan soon after, but shot off target. The visitors continued to press, and Backlund had his hands full; at times it was almost as if CSKA had a permanent numerical advantage.

Slovan had a powerplay early in the middle period, which gave them some relief from the opposition pressure. They created chances, but neither Nedorost nor Baranka could get the puck past Galimov. There followed a passage of more evenly-matched play -  in the 28th minute Murley was presented with a good chance, but couldn't slot the deflected puck past the goalie. Alas, just a minute later the visitors struck - Stas beat Backlund from an angle to double the lead - 0:2. In the 32nd the visitors nearly showed themselves to be in a different class. Zhafyarov served up the puck to Korotkov right in front of goal, but Backlund read his feint. Slovan could have narrowed the deficit in the 34th, but failed to use a three-on-two overlap, and then Galimov pulled off a fine save to tip the puck over the bar from Surový's touch.

Slovan started the final period shorthanded, then attempted to do something about the result. But CSKA guarded their lead carefully, allowing the hosts very little. Nevertheless, in the 48th minute, Vondrka shot on goal from an angle, and found a way past Galimov - 1:2. This sparked hope in the home fans, but that was soon extinguished. Two minutes later, Radulov restored CSKA's two-goal lead, and then Grigorenko added a fourth in the 52nd to settle the game in the visitors' favour, and provide Slovan with their fourth defeat on the trot.