Overtime goal seals Slovan's third win in a row

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Traktor Chelyabinsk 4:3 after overtime (1:0, 2:2, 0:1 - 1:0) 

Goals: 12. Miklík (Kukumberg, Ľ. Višňovský), 26. Kudrna (Ľ. Višňovský, Kukumberg), 35. Sigalet (M. Bakoš, Janus), 63. Kukumberg - 31. Nichushkin (Belov, Čistov), 34. Antipov (Panov, Dugin), 60. Panov (J. Kuznetsov)

Penalties: 3:3 (2 min.), additional: 12. A. Kostitsyn (Chelyabinsk) 5+Game for checking to the head, powerplay goals: 1:1, shorthanded goals: 0:0, officials: Vasiliev (Rus.), Odiňš (Lat.) - Aľošin, Ivanov (both Rus.), attendance: 10 055

Rosters:
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus - Ľ. Višňovský, Sigalet, Sersen, V. Mihálik, J. Tabaček, I. Ďatelinka - Miklík, Bližňák, M. Bakoš - Bartovič, Lipiansky, L. Hudáček - Kukumberg, Kytnár, Kudrna - M. Daňo, Ölvecký, T. Mikúš

Traktor Chelyabinsk: Garnett - Riabykin, Quint, Razin, Belov, Šinin, Katičov, Vasiľčenko, Nesterov - Lemťugov, J. Kuznecov, Čistov - Jakuceňa, Bulis, A. Kosticyn - Antipov, Dugin, Panov - Ničuškin, A. Popov, Karpov

HC SLOVAN Bratislava dominated the third period thanks to the poor discipline of the away side, who played eleven minutes of the opening frame shorthanded. In the 2^nd minute Višňovsky went close with a hard short from the hand, just before Ölvecky had a chance to break the deadlock. In the 6^th minute Janus had to be sharp to make a good stop on Panov, before six minutes later, Andrei Kostitsyn rocked Vladimir Mihálik with a check to the head, forcing the towering defenceman to leave the arena on a stretcher, although tests after the game revealed no serious injury. It only took eight seconds for HC SLOVAN to make good on the extended powerplay, as Michel Miklik found the back of the net to make it 1:0. Traktor struggled to get into the game, and Janus was left with little to do in the remaining minutes of the first period.

In the 26^th minute HC SLOVAN doubled their lead as Andrej Kudrna scored his first KHL goal. A great piece of play by Višňovský set up Kudrna, who managed to cut across the front of Garnett and backhand the puck into the net. HC SLOVAN began to take penalties in the second period, and they were punished in the 34^th minute as Nichushkin found the back of the net. It was all going wrong for HC SLOVAN in the middle of the period, as it was only three more minutes until they had surrendered their one goal lead, as a fast break led by Panov helped sent up Antipov, whose shot went flying into the top corner of Janus’ net. However, HC SLOVAN showed they were made of sterner stuff, and it only took 42 seconds to regain the lead, as a quick counter attack resulted in Jonathan Sigalet having the puck on his stick, and the Canadian defenceman gained the zone and fired a shot from the left face-off circle which eluded Garnett. Before the intermission HC SLOVAN had a great chance to extend their lead, with Tomáš Mikúš going close.

The third period was characterised by both teams not wanting to make the next mistake. In the 45^th minute HC SLOVAN went agonisingly close to making it 4:2, as Daňo’s shot hit the base of the post and trickled across the line before it was cleared. Both netminders excelled in the third period, but Traktor were beginning to gain the momentum. The home side managed to resist a Traktor powerplay with four minutes to go, but 24 seconds before the end, a great piece of individual play by Kuznetsov set up Panov whose one timer scorched the twine.

The game went to overtime with HC SLOVAN disappointed to have surrendered the late lead, but that was forgotten in the 63^rd minute as Roman Kukumberg used his speed to go around the outside of the Traktor defenceman, before roofing the puck on Michael Garnett to seal an overtime victory, and another valuable two points.