SLOVAN OVERPOWERED IN NOVOSIBIRSK

Sibir Novosibirsk – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0)

Goals: 25. Kopeikin, 44. Belov (Koskiranta), 48. Lehtera – 32. Mojžíš (Netík)

Complete statistics HERE.

Lineups:

Sibir Novosibirsk: Koskinen – Belov, Kudroch, Alexeyev, Kutuzov, Karavaev, Lekomtsev, Ozhiganov – Monya, Lehtera, Butuzov, Koskiranta, Kopeikin, Kugryshev, Ignatushkin, Sannikov, Lemtyugov, Voroshilo, Karamnov, Gubin, Romanov

HC SLOVAN Bratislava:  Kopřiva – Brejčák, Kutlák, Mihálik, Mojžíš, Sersen, Sigalet, Škoula – Bakoš, Bartovič, Daňo, Hudáček, Kolena, Kukumberg, Miklík, Mikuš J., Mikuš T., Netík, Ölvecký, Vondrka

Slovan started their first game of the road trip with Miro Kopřiva in goal, replacing Jaro Janus. In the opening minutes, the goaltender didn’t have anything serious to deal with. His opposite number, Koskinen, had to deal with shots from Miklík and an approach from Juraj Mikúš. Netík’s shot in a powerplay was too good for Koskinen, but could only find the crossbar. Slovan played actively; another shot from Netík saw Bartovič’s touch go just wide, and in the same rotation our captain saw two clear chances go begging. Towards the end of the period, Lemtyugov threatened Kopřiva’s net, while at the other end Mihálik shot dangerously.

Kugryshev got the second period going for the hosts, attempting to beat Kopřiva from an angle. A powerplay for the home side then saw them open the scoring in the 24^th minute, Kopeikin finding himself unchallenged between the circles and giving Kopřiva no chance. After another foul, this time by Mojžíš, Sibir gave it the run-around in our defensive zone, but Kopřiva proved himself equal to everything that came his way. In the 29^th minute, the speedy Lehtera outskated Škoula to test Kopřiva again, but the goalie stood firm. Four minutes later Slovan played a superb powerplay, ending in Tomáš Mojžíš scoring the equalizer 1:1. Another powerplay for the hosts saw great chances for Romanov and Lemtyugov, but once again, Kopřiva kept Slovan in the game.

In the 45^th minute, Sibir got a grip on Slovan, and Belov beat the unsighted Kopřiva from the blue line 2:1. Less than five minutes later, Lehtera seized on a rebound to make it 3:1. Slovan’s attempts to claw back the deficit were defeated by the right post off Mojžíš, then captain Bartovič was unfortunate not to beat Koskinen in the 53rd minute. A strange situation occurred three minutes from the end, when Vladimír Mihálik collided with one of the referees, who had to be replaced. In the closing minutes Sibir didn‘t allow Slovan a chance, and celebrated their first ever win over Čada’s charges.

Rostislav Čada: In the first two periods we saw a fast, hard-fought game with the scoreline as deserved. Frequent penalties hurt us. Our opponent’s effective powerplays made us pay the price – they scored two goals in them. As the final score shows, those were decisive.