FIRST PERIOD SETS UP VICTORY

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Piráti Chomutov 5:3 (3:0, 1:1, 1:2)

Goals: 7. Miklík (Vondrka, Škoula), 10. Vondrka (Sersen, Miklík), 11. Miklík (Štajnoch), 38. Kolena (T. Mikúš, R. Mráz), 60. Vondrka - 34. Kaše (Kämpf), 57. D. Hruška (Balej), 59. D. Hruška (Balej, J. Svoboda). Attendance: 9,945.

Lineups:

HC SLOVAN: Kopřiva – Sersen, Škoula, Brejčák, Mihalik, Štajnoch, Sigalet, Kudrna – Bartovič, Bližňák, Kukumberg – Vondrka, Ölvecký, Miklík – Daňo, Šťastný, Hudáček – Kolena, T. Mikúš, R. Mráz

Piráti Chomutov: Kostúr – Lakos, Malec, Pulpán, Mrázek, Bartejs, Rutta, Šulák – Svoboda, Mainer, Balej – Kubinčák, Kämpf, Kaše – Šagát, Sikora, Hřebejk – Račuk, Kůs, Hruška

Slovan pounced upon the opposition right from the start. Sersen could have scored in the 5^th minute, but his shot from the blue line didn’t get past goaltender goaltender Kostúr. But coach Čada’s charges piled the pressure on Chomutov, resulting in three goals in the space of four minutes. The first came in the 7^th minute, Miklík finishing off from Vondrka’s precise pass. These two swapped roles for the next goal, Miklík and Sersen combining to leave an easy finish for Vondrka - 2:0. Miklík rounded off the Slovan onslaught, his shot just evading Kostúr’s reach.

In the second period, the tempo slowed down, the visitors beginning to make attacking inroads. Kaše managed to convert one attack, beating Kopřiva in the Slovan net. But Slovan hit back just four minutes later, Kolena making it 4:1 after a beautiful move from youngsters Tomáš Mikúš a Richard Mráz.

Slovan held on to their three-goal lead until late in the third period. But two goals from Dávid Hrušku in the 57^th and 59^th minute – 4:3 – ensured a dramatic end to the game. One minute from the end, however, Michal Vondrka decided the duel 5:3 in Slovan’s favour. Slovan next appear at the SLOVNAFT Arena on Tuesday, September 17^th, when they face Torpedo Nizhny Novogorod in their first home game of the KHL season.