SPARTAK SEALS VICTORY IN SECOND PERIOD

Spartak Moskva – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 5:0 (0:0, 3:0, 2:0)

Goals: 22. Krutov (Rjazantcev, Junkov), 33. Quint (Bobrov), 35. Anderson, 44. Anderson (Quint, Špirko), 59.Špirko (Wandell)

Lineups:

Spartak Moscow: Glass – Sergejev, Quint, Megalinsky, Bodrov, Rjazancev, Kulik, Sorokin, Mamkin – Wandell, Špirko, Anderson – Volkov, Nikulin, Kozlov – Nikoncev, Junkov, Krutov – Bobrov, Medvedev, Černjkh

HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus – Škoula, Sersen, Kutlák, Sigalet, Mojžíš, Štajnoch, Kolena, Mihálik – Bartovič, Bližňák, Miklík – Vondrka, Netík, Juraj Mikúš – Kukumberg, Hudáček, Ölvecký – Mráz, Tomáš Mikúš, Daňo

HC SLOVAN came out against Spartak with virtually the same lineup from the unsuccessful opening game in Donetsk. Čada’s charges had a powerplay right at the start, but only Miklík was able to give Glass any work to do. The first threat from the home team came in the 5^th minute, Krutov shooting just wide. When Mário Bližňák broke away in the 10th minute, only a foul by Sergelev could stop him. But goaltender Glass was equal to the resulting penalty shot. Both sides had several powerplays in the first period, but both goalies kept clean sheets.

In the second act, Spartak started better. In the 22^nd minute, Krutov was able to come from behind the net to get in scoring position, and he duly converted – 1:0. Michal Vondrka, Libor Hudáček, and then Peter Ölvecký all had their attempts for an immediate equalizer stopped by the watchful Glass. In the second period, play swung from one end to the other – Janus too had to be constantly on guard to keep out Wandell. Tomáš Mikúš also came close to restoring parity, but his shot missed the target. In the 32^nd minute, a misunderstanding between Vondrka and Netík in center ice allowed Quint to seize the puck and beat Janus with a strong shot – 2:0. The middle of the period did not go at all well for us, and when Kutlák lay on the puck in the goalmouth, Matt Anderson converted the resulting penalty shot for 3:0.

Slovan’s unconvincing performance continued in the final period. In the 44^th minute, Anderson found himself in space in front of Janus, and the American made no mistake – 4:0. At the other end, Glass continued to keep out Slovan, holding off both Sersen and Vondrka during a powerplay. In the 50^th minute, Janus did well to keep out Nikoncev’s shot. Meanwhile, Kukumberg managed to get a shot past Glass, only for a defenseman to steal in and stop the puck at the last moment. In the closing minutes, in spite of a great effort – and several decent chances – our players still could not get past the outstanding Glass. Špirko then sealed a 5:0 victory for the hosts with a powerplay goal in the 59^th minute.