Fine Performance Nets Historic Victory Margin!

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Metallurg Novokuznetsk 6:0 (3:0, 1:0, 2:0) 

Goals: 11. Jelič (Tičar, A. Šťastný), 17. Švarný (Protaseňa, Bartovič), 18. Barker (Kašpar), 38. Kašpar (Surový), 45. A. Šťastný (Tičar, Jeglič), 59. D. Skokan (Bartovič, Barker) 
Penalties: 7:4 (2 min.), Powerplay goals: 1:0, Shorthanded: 0:0. Officials: Kiselyov, Deyev - Zakharenkov, Sadovnikov (all RUS). Attendance: 6,875.

Lineups: 
HC SLOVAN: Garnett - Sersen, Barker, Starosta, Švarný, J. Valach, V. Mihálik, L. Kozák - Kašpar, V. Nedorost, Surový - Jeglič, Tičar, A. Šťastný - D. Skokan, Protaseňa, Bartovič - Skalický, Viedenský, Lušňák 
Novokuzneck: Podyapolsky (21. F. Novotný) - Postnikov, Kuklev, Manukhov, Fairchild, Skutar, Amirov, Antonovsky, Kamalov - Drugov, Romanov, Komaristy - J. Orlov, Stoa, Kazakov - Kaprizov, Kousal, Karavayev - Musin, Malinovsky, Berdnikov 

HC SLOVAN started off on the back foot, defending two early powerplays from the visitors. But they handled them well, allowing no chances. The hosts then took the reins, and began to play the same active and offensive brand of hockey as they showed against Amur, but this time they converted their chances. The first came in the 11th minute, as our Slovene duo combined well. Tičar brought the puck into the zone, came in on goal from the left, and shaped to shoot. But instead he picked out Jeglič open on the other side, and he fired into the uncovered net - 1:0. Thus the Sky Blues took the lead for the first time this season. Švarný then doubled the lead in the 17th, shooting well straight from a face-off in the left circle - 2:0. Just a minute later, and Slovan had three, laying the foundations for vicotry. The Sky Blues converted a powerplay for the first time this term - Barker shot from the blue line, and unsighted Metallurg goalie failed to react, thanks to Nedorost's shielding tactic - 3:0.

Novotný replaced Podyapolsky for the second period, and the Czech goaltender immediately faced a fine shot from Švarný, as well as Kašpar's follow up. Mihálik's dismissal then eased the pressure from the hosts, but Novokuznetsk failed to create a chance until Komaristy had a shot. Slovan concentrated and played watchfully at the back, allowing the opposition almost nothing. Bratislava then had their own powerplay in the 29th, and Kašpar came close to the fourth goal, but hit the post. Another Slovan powerplay again bore no fruit, this time Tičar unable to beat Novotný. Metallurg made their most serious threat in the 37th, but Garnett was equal to Stoa's attempted finish. Two minutes later, the home fans were cheering again, the Czech Kašpar this time finding the net to make it four - 4:0.

The hosts didn't let up even in the final period, and soon carved out two good opportunities, but Novotný kept out both Nedorost and Skokan. But he was soon overcome, as the second line combined in the 45th, and Šťastný finished it off with a slapshot - 5:0. Novokuznetsk did come close to a consolation powerplay goal in the 52nd, with Stoa in good position to shoot, but Garnett was not to be beaten. Indeed, he shone all the more in the 56th, making a telling intervention to deny Kaprizov. In the closing stages, Bartovič enabled Skokan to add a sixth, and thus secure Slovan's biggest victory in the KHL.