SLOVAN OUTSHOOT, BUT CAN’T OUTSCORE

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Atlant Mytishchi 1:2 (SO) - (1:1, 0:0, 0:0 - 0:0, 0:1) 

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Atlant Mytishchi 1:2 (SO) - (1:1, 0:0, 0:0 - 0:0, 0:1) 

Goals: 10. Bartovič (L. Hudáček, V. Mihálik) - 12. Batyrshin (Glukhov, Konstantin Koltsov), deciding penalty shot: I. Radulov.

Penalties: 7:7 (2 min.), + Soshnikov (Atlant) 5 + game misconduct (checking to head and neck). Powerplay Goals: 1:0, Shorthanded: 0:0. Officials: Ravodin, Romasko - Zakharenkov, Sadovnikov (RUS). Attendance: 10,055.

Lineups: 
HC SLOVAN: Janus - Škoula, Sersen, V. Mihálik, Mojžíš, Štajnoch, J. Brejčák - Miklík, Bližňák, Vondrka - Radivojevič, Ölvecký, Bartovič - Šatan, A. Šťastný, L. Hudáček - Daňo, Matoušek, M. Bakoš 
Atlant: Galimov - Novopashin, Batyrshin, Rukavishnikov, A. Petrov, Atyushov, Dyblenko, Velikov - Glukhov, Kablukov, Konstantin Koltsov - Haataja, Engqvist, Mikhnov – Artyukhin, Trubachyov, I. Radulov - Soshnikov, Kadeikin, Shmelyov – (41.) A. Shevchenko

The first serious chance fell to Vondrka in the 4^th minute, but Galimov dealt with his shot from the left circle. Home captain Bartovič then broke away in the 8th, only to be impeded by Velikov. The resulting powerplay served up the opening goal, the captain diverting Hudáček’s shot into the net – 1:0. Both Daňo and Šťastný could have scored soon after, but this time Galimov was decisive. Batyrshin broke away for Atlant in the 12^th, and his unexpected shot beat Janus – 1:1. Radulov also threatened on the break, but Janus stood firm. Slovan were certainly the more active side in the first period, outshooting Atlant 13:4, but had just a solitary goal to show for it.

Early in the middle period, Bartovič shot into Galimov’s mitt from the edge of the circle. The visitors then had a short five-on-three powerplay, but failed even to create a chance. Soon after, Brejčák and Artyukhin had a set-to, both ending up on the penalty bench. Šťastný hit the post half-way through the period, soon followed by a long, five-minute powerplay for the hosts, during which they had a full two minutes of five-on-three advantage. But the scoreline didn’t change. Slovan then had to defend three Atlant powerplays leading up to the siren; Janus and his defense managed not to concede.

Mikhnov tested Janus early in the third, while defenseman Škoula tried his hand from the blue line at the other end. Radulov could have scored in the 51st minute, but Janus somehow made the save. In the last ten minutes, Slovan failed to make anything from a four-minute powerplay, Sersen coming closest for Slovan, while Shmelyov threatened on the counter.

 The visitors had the most chances in the overtime that followed, but were unable to get past Janus. Radulov was the only scorer in the shootout, sealing two points for Atlant.