Sparta victorious at the SLOVNAFT Arena

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - HC Sparta Praha 2:3 after penalty shots (0:0, 0:1, 2:1 - 0:0, 0:1) 

Goals: 44. Bartovič (Netík), 45. Vondrka (Kukumberg) - 38. Sičák (Forman, Kubát), 60. Pilař, winning penalty shot: Pilař, attendance: 10,055

It was a slow burner at the SLOVNAFT Arena, as it was not until the third period that the game really sprung into life. Seven minutes in, Simon had a good chance for Sparta but he shot wide on a shot from close range. Six minutes later, it was Miroslav Forman who had a great chance for Sparta, but he was denied by Janus. HC SLOVAN struggled to really generate much in the first period, leaving Tomáš Pöpperle with little to do.

However, that changed in the second period, as Tomáš Netík went close in the early stages, but his hard shot was saved by the Sparta netminder. With two minutes to go in the second period, finally the deadlock was broken, although it was Sparta who got the goal. Kubat’s point shot was deflected out in front by Forman, and Vladimir Sičák netted on a backhand effort to send Sparta in with a one goal lead.

HC SLOVAN rallied in the third period and eventually took the lead. Firstly, a 2 on 1 chance for the home side saw captain Milan Bartovič wire a laser of a wrist shot top shelf to equalise. Less than a minute later, Roman Kukumberg won the faceoff and worked the puck straight to Michal Vondrka who one-timed the puck past Pöpperle. HC SLOVAN looked to hold on to the three points, but in the final minute of the game, with the netminder pulled, Karel Pilař hammered a one timer from the point which Janus could not save, sending the game to overtime.

Despite having a 5 on 3 man advantage in the extra frame, HC SLOVAN were unable to find the back of the net, sending the game to a shootout, where it was Pilař who would be the hero once again, roofing a backhand to win the game for Sparta.