WHEELS COME OFF AGAINST AVTOMOBILIST

Avtomobilist Jekaterinburg – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 8:1  (3:0, 2:0, 3:1)

Goals:  6. Alexander Streltsov (Golyshev), 11. Yemeleyev (Viklund), 16. Simakov (Demagin), 30. Triamkin (Lewandowski), 33. Yefimov (Lewandowski, Stewart), 55. Lazarev (Viklund, Malykhin), 56. Arkalov (Yefimov), 58. Chernov (Triamkin) – 46. Vondrka

Lineups:
Avtomobilist: Kovář – Gusev (C), Triamkin, Viklund, Lepistö (A), Megalinsky, Antonov, Postnikov, Arkalov – Yefimov, Lewandowski, Stewart – Chernov, Malykhin, Lazarev – Demagin, Yemeleyev, Simakov (A) – Golyshev, A. Streltsov, V. Streltsov
HC SLOVAN: Janus – Sersen (A), Škoula, Kutlák, Sigalet, Mojžíš, Štajnoch, T. Mikúš, Matoušek – Bartovič (C), J. Mikúš, Netík – Vondrka, Bližňák (A), Miklík – Kukumberg, Ölvecký, Hudáček – Bakoš, Šťastný, Daňo

Despite five defeats in succession, the Uralets stadium was almost full. Slovan started off by no means badly, both Hudáček and Miklík testing Czech goalie Kovář early on. But it was the hosts who opened the scoring in the 6th minute, when Streltsov directed Golyshev’s cross-shot under the prostrate Janus – 1:0. Four minutes later, Slovan trailed by two, Yemeleyev firing home in a powerplay after Daňo’s foul – 2:0. Slovan tried hard to claw back the deficit, Kukumberg’s effort in a two-on-one superbly stopped by Kovář. But the same situation for Simakov at the other end saw Janus beaten a third time – 3:0.

Miklík was in place to shoot in the 25^th minute, but his shot found only the goalie’s mitt. The following passage of play remained goalless thanks to Janus, first saving Lazarev’s shot in the 26^th, then making an incredible save off Yemeleyev two minutes later. However, a powerplay followed soon after, and Triamkin shot successfully through everything to make it 4:0. The Avtomobilist net seemed accursed for Slovan, Hudáček unable to convert a huge chance in the 31^st, whereas Yefimov found the Slovan net after a splendid pass from Lewandowski – 5:0.

Slovan fought hard in the final period, despite the scoreline. In the 46^th, Vondrka bore down on Kovář from the left, and despite being fouled his shot went between the goalie’s pads – 5:1. A mêlée in front of Janus in the 55^th saw Lazarev squeeze the puck home – 6:1 – but that still wasn’t all from the hosts. In the 56^th, Arkalov made it 7:1, and Chernov finished off a forgettable game for Slovan – 8:1.

Rostislav Čada: “Today we lacked the physical strength necessary for the right tactical movement in center ice. We were found wanting in one-on-one defensive situations as well, which showed itself in the contests in front of goal, which resulted in half the goals we conceded. A lack of strength and urgency meant we only managed to convert one of the chances we created.”