Defeat against in-form Jokerit

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Jokerit Helsinki 2:4 (1:1, 0:2, 1:1) 

Goals: 12. L. Nagy (Tičar), 55. Jeglič (penalty shot) - 14. Moses (Omark, Lajunen), 26. Rita (Harju, Karalahti), 30. Koukal (Moses, Omark), 45. Harju (Rita)

Penalties: 3:8 (2 min.), plus: Karalahti (Jokerit) 10 min (checking from behind), Powerplay goals: 1:1, Shorthanded: 0:0. Officials: Deyev, Naumov - A. Medvedev (all RUS), Balodis (LAT). Attendance: 10,055.

Lineups: 
HC SLOVAN: Janus - Štajnoch, Baranka, Sersen, Sigalet, Foster, Starosta, od 31. min J. Brejčák - Netík, Surový, Bartovič - Vondrka, Murley, L. Hudáček - L. Nagy, Tičar, Jeglič - A. Šťastný, Bližňák, Lunter 
Jokerit: H. Karlsson - Lajunen, Gunderson, Karalahti, Korpikari, Väänänen, Ohtamaa - Aaltonen, N. Kapanen, Sallinen - Rita, Harju, Mäki - Moses, Koukal, Omark - Pöysti, Hahl, Ben-Amor 

Sunday saw HC Slovan host Jokerit Helsinki for the first time in the KHL. The first chance fell to the visiting Finns when Rita broke away, but his shot was marginally off target. Slovan then took the reins in the contest, and goaltender Karlsson was given plenty of work to do, but the hosts failed to find the net in their first powerplay. But a second powerplay soon after bore fruit, thanks to former Jokerit player Ladislav Nagy - 1:0. His sweep from the left circle gave Slovan a lead, but it would prove short-lived. Less than two minutes later, the "Jokers" had their second powerplay of the game, and Moses duly rounded Janus to deliver the equalizer - 1:1.

Jokerit dominated the second period from the outset. In the 26th minute, the inattention of the Sky Blues' defence gave Rita safe passage all the way to Janus, where he slotted home for a lead the visitors would not relinquish - 1:2. Continued active play from Jokerit led to a third goal not five minutes later - Moses fed Koukal from behind the net after Omark's shot was saved, and the Czech forward couldn't miss the open net - 1:3 Slovan then failed to make anything from two powerplays, both with Karalahti in the sin bin.

In the 45th minute, Harju extended the Helsinki lead to three, coming from behind the net to squeeze the puck through Janus at the second attempt - 1:4. Five minutes from the end, Jeglič pulled one back, scoring from a penalty shot after he was fouled by Gunderson - 2:4. Slovan did have a late powerplay, but did not manage to bring about a dramatic end to the game.

Petri Matikainen (Slovan head coach): "Well, as we try hard with every game, so we prepared well for the game against Jokerit. We were the better team at the beginning, we were more active, and had more shots and chances. It's a pity we only managed to produce one goal from all that pressure. In the second period we fell away again, which has happened a lot to us recently. We stopped moving, defended badly, and we let the opposition score with easy chances. We were passive, and we over-complicated. Our opponents defended excellently in the third period, we didn't create scoring chances. We have to keep working hard, keep trying, and I believe victories will come. We must concentrate for the entire 60 minutes."