Resounding Victory Over Novokuznetsk!

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Metallurg Novokuznetsk 5:0 (1:0, 3:0, 1:0)

Goals: 14. Nedorost (Ružička, Nagy), 27. Tičar (Jeglič), 33. Baranka (Nedorost), 40. Bartovič, 51. Murley (Nagy). Officials: Anisimov, Tsyplakov - Alyoshin, Balodis.

Penalties: 5:5 (2 min.), Powerplay goals: 2:0, shorthanded: 0:0. Attendance: 7,441.

HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus – Štajnoch, Sigalet, Brejčák, Baranka, Sersen, Starosta, Luža – Surový, Murley, Bartovič - Nagy, Nedorost, Ružička - Netík, Tičar, Jeglič – Šťastný, Bližňák, Ölvecký
Metallurg Novokuznetsk: Khakimov (33. Sorokin) - Fairchild, Zotov, Kuklev, Dorofeyev, Kanarsky, Kamalov, Belokhvostikov, Gavrilychev - Romanov, Stoa, Maltsev - Galimov, Malinovsky, Komaristy - Plotnikov, Garifulin, Skladnichenko - Kosourov, O'Brien, Kurepanov
      
The game was played at a solid temp from the outset, but the teams applied themselves in watchful defence, with scoring chances at a premium. A scrummage in front of the Slovan net in the 7th minute led to Plotnikov shooting from up close, but Janus was on guard. Slovan could have struck two minutes later, but Ružička failed to punish a wayward pass from Khamikov in the Metallurg net. Another defensive error in the 11th minute allowed Murley to feed Bartovič, who sailed through alone but his shot struck the left post. The hosts didn't have to wait too much longer, as Ružička's pass allowed Nedorost to shoot over the prostrate goalie from an angle - 1:0. Metallurg were far from shaken, and continued to threaten; Janus was pushed to the limit to keep out Kosourov's effort with his mitt.
      
With Štajnocha penalised early in the middle period, the Metallurg fourth line applied pressure. Slovan came close through Ölvecký, who stretched to meet the rebound from Sersen's long shot, but the puck slid just wide. The key moment of the game came in the 27th minute: first Skladnichenko spurned a massive chance in front Janus, then Slovene teamwork reaped rewards at the other end, Jegliča the provider, Tičar the scorer - 2:0. Soon after, Khakimov pulled off a wonder save to deny Nedorost, and the exciting play brought the home crowd to their feet. In the 32nd, Ölvecký also came away empty-handed from a one-on-one with the Metallurg goalie, but Slovan kept up the onslaught, and made their first powerplay count a minute later. Baranka's shot from the blue line beat everyone - 3:0 - bringing about Khakimov's replacement in goal by Sorokin. Slovan were clearly on top, and Netík could have added another but for the new goalie in his way. Bartovič went one better just seconds from the siren, breaking down the left wing and finding a gap in Sorokin's armour to stab home the fourth - 4:0. The fans' attention was held a little longer thanks to a post-siren scuffle between Baranka and Galimov, earning them both 4 minutes in the sin bin.
      
In the final period, the home side guarded their lead comfortably, and kept Sorokin busy when the opportunity arose. In the 46th minute, Tičar's effort tested him, while Surový managed not to find the half-open net soon after. Ten minutes from the end, Janus nearly dirtied his clean sheet with a poor pass out, but the visitors failed to cease on his hesitancy. Instead, Slovan topped off their victory a minute later, as Murley beat Sorokin in a powerplay - 5:0. And there was still time for Janus to show off his craft, somehow cutting out Komarist's dead cert with his mitt. The closing stages then passed without major incident, to the chants and applause of the contented home fans.