HC SLOVAN Bratislava’s first foray into the Gagarin Cup Playoffs sees them play last season’s champions Dinamo Moscow.
HC SLOVAN Bratislava closed the regular season on the road with a three game road trip. The team followed up an overtime victory against Spartak Moscow with a further two points against Donbass Donetsk. Branislav Konrád shone in a rare starting performance as the Slovak shot stopper had a fantastic third period in which Juraj Mikúš’ second goal in as many games tied the game at 3:3 mid way through the third period. Roman Kukumberg went on to score the overtime winner to give HC SLOVAN a second road victory on the trot, while also cementing sixth place in the Western Conference.
In the final game of the regular season, HC SLOVAN Bratislava were in Latvia to face Dinamo Riga, the basement dwellers in the Western Conference. However, the hosts would be the team who picked up the three points, as despite going behind in the first period through a Michal Sersen goal, Dinamo rallied back to find the back of the net three times and take a 3:1 victory. It was a disappointing end to the regular season for HC SLOVAN, but it goes to show how competitive the KHL truly is, even at both ends of the table.
As a result of their sixth placed finish, HC SLOVAN Bratislava will now go on to face the third seeds Dinamo Moscow. The two games played between the teams so far this season resulted in victories for the side from the Russian capital, however, it must be noted that both of these games saw the likes of Alexander Ovechkin and Niklas Backstrom playing for Dinamo. Featuring a large proportion of their roster from last season, Dinamo represent a stern test for HC SLOVAN, but the Slovak side has already proven that they can beat opponents higher than them in the table, as demonstrated by victories over SKA St. Petersburg, Metallurg Magnitogorsk and Avangard Omsk.
Playoff schedule:
20.2.2013: Dinamo - Slovan (Moscow)
21.2.2013: Dinamo - Slovan (Moscow)
24.2.2013: Slovan - Dinamo (Slovnaft Aréna, 17:00 h)
25.2.2013: Slovan - Dinamo (Slovnaft Aréna, 19:00 h)
28.2.2013: Dinamo - Slovan (Moscow, if necessary)
2.3.2013: Slovan - Dinamo (Slovnaft Aréna, 17:00 h, if necessary)
4.3.2013: Dinamo - Slovan (Moskva, if necessary)
| P | Tím | Z | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | CSKA Moscow | 38 | 81 |
| 2. | Jokerit Helsinki | 38 | 68 |
| 3. | Lokomotiv Yaroslavl | 40 | 77 |
| 4. | Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod | 39 | 67 |
| 5. | HC Sochi | 39 | 65 |
| 6. | Dynamo Moscow | 39 | 65 |
| 7. | SKA St. Peterburg | 38 | 62 |
| 8. | Dinamo Minsk | 38 | 56 |
| 9. | Medvescak Zagreb | 40 | 56 |
| 10. | HC SLOVAN Bratislava | 40 | 55 |
| 11. | Spartak Moscow | 39 | 50 |
| 12. | Vityaz Podolsk | 39 | 46 |
| 13. | Dinamo Riga | 37 | 46 |
| 14. | Severstal Cherepovets | 38 | 40 |
