Perfect Three Points in Togliatti!

Lada Togliatti – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 3:6 (1:1 0:3, 2:2)

Goals: 16. Sharov (Stulov), 43. Bocharov (Nikitenko), 57. Belousov – 7. Sersen (Vondrka), 29. Netík (Nedorost), 32. Starosta (Vondrka), 34. Nagy (Bartovič), 49. Bartovič (Nagy), 54. Bartovič (Nagy)

Lineups:
Lada: Ezhov (40. Glass) – Barantsev, Podhradský, Shulakov, Hunkes, Vorobyov(A), Romanov, Ogurtsov, Stulov – Petrov(A), Golubev, Chernikov, Nikitenko(C), Valuisky, Fedorov, Zatovič, Belousov, Shenfeld, Sharov, Mastryukov, Bocharov
HC SLOVAN: Backlund – Sigalet, Štajnoch, Baranka, Sersen(A), Foster, Starosta, Brejčák – Bližňák, Surový, Bartovič(C), Nedorost, Netík, Vondrka, Nagy(A), Tičar, Jeglič, Lunter, White, Kudrna

Slovan started the final game of their road trip with an early chance - in the 2nd minute, Nedorost pressed through from the right side, and Ezhov in the Lada net just managed to smother the puck on the goal line. Another chance came four minutes later, and this time Slovan made sure it didn't go begging. We locked down the home side in a powerplay, and Michal Sersen's slapshot from Vondrka's pass hit the net – 0:1.  Slovene forward Žiga Jeglič played no further part in the game from the 10th minute, his questionable challenge on Petrov earning him 5 minutes plus a game misconduct charge. The home team made almost nothing from the powerplay until the last minute, when Tomáš Starosta was unfortunate to turn the puck into his own net – the goal would ultimately be awarded to Sharov - 1:1. In the closing minutes, Lada created decent pressure, producing a great chance for Fedorov, but Backlund's left pad was in the way.

The opening minutes of the middle period followed the first period example - Slovan created pressure and played another powerplay, but failed to pose a serious threat to Ezhov. In the 26th minute it was Lada's turn to play out a fruitless powerplay, and the game remained a stalemate at the half-way point. But it was once again the Slovan second line who put us in front, a nice combination resulting in Netík's precise finish – 1:2. The Czech trio remained active, and three minutes later they again caused trouble for Lada - Netík served up the puck for Starosta, who increased the lead - 1:3.  A fine second period was then crowned by non other than Ladislav Nagy - Slovan's most productive player - who broke away with Milan Bartovič, and a fine bluff onto the forehand provided our fourth - 1:4. 

Lada Togliatti tried to come up with something in the final period. In the 41st minute, a chance for the first powerplay formation didn't come off, but two minutes later Bocharov celebrated a fine solo effort on the break - 2:4. Things then calmed down, as Slovan guarded the attacking blue line well, and forced the hosts out of shooting position in the defensive zone. In the 49th, Ladislav Nagy expertly skated the puck behind the home net, now manned by Glass, and pick out Bartovič. His powerful backhand restored Slovan's three-goal advantage - 2:5. In the 54th, it was Milan Bartovič again, this time winning a contest for the puck and shooting between the goalie's pads - 2:6. With three minutes to go, Belousov managed to pull one back for the hosts, leaving a final score of 6:3. 

Petri Matikainen, HC SLOVAN head coach: "This was our fourth game in eight days, so it's no wonder that tiredness was visible within the team. There were phases in the game when we played very well, but also times where we made pointless errors, and the opposition punished them with three goals. In the end we were just more effective, and we scored six nice goals. We can be really pleased with another three points, and eight from this road trip as a whole."