Janus shuts out Vityaz

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Vityaz Chekhov 3:0 (0:0, 2:0, 1:0) 

Goals: 33. Kytnár (Mojžíš, J. Tabaček), 38. Vondrka (J. Tabaček, Mojžíš), 57. Svatoš (Bartovič) 

Penalties: 4:4 (2 min), additional: Selezňov (Vityaz) 5+game for checking to the head, powerplay goals: 1:0, shorthanded goals: 0:0, officials: Bulanov, Olenin - Birin, A. Medvedev (all Rus.), attendance: 10 055 

Rosters:
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus - Sersen, Sigalet, J. Tabaček, Mojžíš, Ďatelinka, Švarný - Miklík, Bližňák, Vondrka - Svatoš, J. Mikúš, Bartovič - Kukumberg, Kytnár, L. Hudáček - M. Daňo, Ölvecký, T. Mikúš - A. Šťastný 
Vityaz Chekhov: Denisov - Chafizullin, Selezňov, Malevič, Golovkov, Fahey, Kudinov - Timkin, Baďukov, Belousov - A. Koroľov, Čisťakov, Podziňš - V. Kuľomin, Tichomirov, Sergejev - Dvurečenskij, Černov, Tatalin

In what was perhaps a closer game than the score suggested, Vityaz started the game as the better side. Chernov and Dvurechensky went close in the fourth minute, but a misplaced pass put an end to the play. On the other hand, Michel Miklik had a breakaway chance which Denisov in the Vityaz net dealt with quite comfortably. In the 7^th minute, Dvurechensky had another chance on goal, but Janus made a great stop to deny the Vityaz sharpshooter. As the period went on, the home side got more into the game, and chances came for Daňo and Šťastný, while Ölvecký and Bližňák also went close before the end of the period. Just before the buzzer, new forward Juraj Mikúš had a chance stopped by Denisov.

In the second period, HC SLOVAN had the better of the play, as the home side’s players were outworking the opposition. First Denisov had to make stops on Mojžíš and Šťastný, but in the 33^rd minute while on the powerplay, HC SLOVAN were finally able to breach the opposition’s defence. Milan Kytnár got his stick to a Mojžíš point shot, and the puck went into the back of the net. Five minutes later and the score was 2:0, as Tabaček joined the rush on the left wing, and his pass found Michal Vondrka who lit the lamp to send HC SLOVAN into the intermission with a two goal lead.

Five minutes into the third period, Vityaz had one of their best chances to break Janus’ shutout bid, as Korolev forced an excellent save from the HC SLOVAN shot stopper. Korolev had another chance later in the period, while he had to be at his best to deny Badukov. However, HC SLOVAN weathered the storm, and eventually they were able to seal the game as Marek Svatoš opened his HC SLOVAN Bratislava account, thanks to a selfless assist by Milan Bartovič.

Hlasy: 
Rostislav Čada (tréner Slovana): "Vedeli sme, že nás čaká dôležitý duel. Začali sme opatrne a miestami až kŕčovito. Postupne sme zvyšovali aktivitu a pomohli nám dva góly v druhej časti. V poslednej tretine sme urobili dve veľké chyby v strednom pásme, ale podržal nás gólman Janus." 
Jurij Leonov (tréner Čechova): "Bol to veľmi dobrý zápas, ktorý mal dostatočnú rýchlosť. Hra sa mi páčila, mala potrebný spád. Je veľmi ťažké zvíťaziť, keď nedáme ani gól."