SLOVAN SINKS TORPEDO TO CLAIM ALL THREE POINTS!

Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 2:3 (0:1, 2:2, 0:0)

Goals: 28. Wolski (Salminen, Valentenko), 31. Skachkov (Krasnoslobodtsev, Valentenko) – 17. Miklík (Ölvecký), 25. Bartovič (Miklík), 35. Hudáček (Radivojevič, Šatan)

Lineups:
Torpedo: Kasutin – Hietanen, Khomitsky, Valentenko, Bernatsky, Denisov, Grigoriev, Belokhvostikov, Tverdokhlebov – Salminen, Immonen, Wolski – Krasnoslobodtsev, Galuzin, Skachkov – Kulemin, M. Potapov, Lyuduchin – Zharkov, Badiukov, Dvurechensky
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus – Škoula, Štajnoch, Mihálik, Sigalet, J. Brejčák, Mojžíš, Luža, Daňo – Hudáček, Radivojevič, Šatan – Bartovič (C), J. Mikúš, Miklík – Ölvecký (A), Bližňák (A), Kukumberg – T. Mikúš, Šťastný, Bakoš

The home team had most of the play right from the first face off, yet it was Slovan who created the first major chance. While shorthanded, they overpowered Novgorod in defense, and Torpedo had Kasutin to thank for keeping out Bartovič’s shot from a two-on-one break. Slovan defended well on their blue line and center ice, allowing Nizhny Novgorod no chances in the first ten minutes. Kasutin again saved Torpedo in the 11^th minute, stopping Kukumberg from up close. Janus was finally called into action by Finnish duo of Salminen and Immonen, but it was Slovan who took the lead – in the 17^th minute. With a delayed penalty signalled, the in-form Ölvecký found Miklík, whose backhand opened the scoring – 0:1.

Slovan also started the second period well. After an effective penalty kill, Miklík picked out Bartovič on the break, and the skipper beat Kasutin - 0:2. The home team did eventually find a way past Janus thanks to Wolski, who pulled a goal back at the end of a five-on-three powerplay – 1:2. A couple of minutes later, the home side confined Slovan to the defensive zone, which lead to an equalizer from Skachkov – 2:2. But parity did not last long – in the 35^th minute, Radivojevič sent a perfect pass to Hudáček in the open, and he made it three – 2:3. A defensive error two minutes from the siren allowed Miklík to race at Kasutin, but his finish didn’t go as planned.

The third period was stop-start affair, marked by much imprecise play. But with a one-goal lead, this suited Slovan. In the 44^th minute, Hudáček got away from the defense and could have put in Šatan, but he opted to shoot and missed the target. The visitors were a serious threat on the break, and Miklík’s slapshot nearly did for Kasutin. The home side, meanwhile, grew more frustrated as the minutes passed, and dissent brought Galuzin a penalty of twice ten minutes plus game misconduct. In the closing minutes Slovan put in an excellent display and, not without a little luck, successfully defended a late Torpedo powerplay to end their seven-game winning streak.

Rostislav Čada: It was a fast, dramatic game in which we defended very well. Five-on-five we gave them very few chances. Torpedo only managed anything during powerplays, which brought them back into the game, and with our third goal we decided the game in a powerplay as well.