KALPA SEALS VICTORY LATE IN THE GAME

KalPa Kuopio – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 4:2 (1:0, 1:0, 2:2)

Goals and Assists: 17. Ikonen (Harjama, Liedes), 28. Koivisto (Junnila), 54. Pither (Halonen), 60. Pither (Lehkonen) – 46. Sersen (Mikúš, Netík), 51. Ölvecký

Lineups:
KalPa Kuopio: Kiviaho – Timonen, Kauppinen, Koivisto, Halonen, Riikola, Foss, Kouvalainen, Lyytinen – Kolehmainen, Kerälä, Kasperi Kapanen – Saarinen, Pither, Lehkonen – Ikonen, Harjama, Sami Kapanen – Liedes, Riekkinen, Junnila
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Kopřiva – Sersen, Škoula, Sigalet, Mojžíš, Brejčák, Štajnoch, Ďatelinka, Tomáš Mikúš – Vondrka, Bližňák, Miklík – Bartovič, Juraj Mikúš, Netík – Hudáček, Ölvecký, Kukumberg – Daňo, Bakoš, Mráz

After victory the day before, HC SLOVAN Bratislava made a lukewarm start to their game in Kuopio. failing to make a significant chance in the first period. A powerplay brought the home side’s first opening within the first minute of the game, but Kopřiva kept out Kasperi Kapanen. Four minutes later it was Slovan’s turn for a powerplay, but we barely threatened Kiviaho in the opponents’ net. The sparsely-filled Trust Kapital Arena saw its first goal in the 17^th minute, Jasse Ikonen’s crucial touch diverting the puck past Kopřiva – 1:0.

Slovan started the middle period with a powerplay, but we once again failed to threaten the home team’s net. KalPa did threaten in the 24^th minute, but Sigalet was able to intervene right in front of Kopřiva. The hosts’ second goal came in the 28^th minute, Mikka Koivisto managing to shoot between Kopřiva’s pads – 2:0. Slovan responded to the negative scoreline by trying to drag themselves back into the game, but KalPa defended well and largely kept Slovan away from Kiviaho’s net.

The third period brought the most interesting play. KalPa started the more active of the two teams, but our players gradually began to seize the initiative. In the 46^th minute Sersen scooped into the net during a powerplay, then four minutes later Ölvecký rounded the defense to fire home – 2:2. Alas, the dismissal of Mojžíš relieved the pressure, and Luke Pither was able to restore KalPa’s lead - 3:2. With the goaltender out, Slovan was unable to make anything happen, and it was Pither once again who fired into the empty net.