DRAMATIC DEFEAT AGAINST REIGNING CHAMPIONS

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Dynamo Moscow  4:5 (1:0, 2:1, 1:4)

Goals: 15. Mojžíš (Miklík, Vondrka), 25. Vondrka (Miklík, Škoula), 39. Ölvecký (L. Hudáček, M. Daňo), 55. M. Bakoš (Mojžíš, Štajnoch) - 27. Kokarev (Karsums, A. Tsvetkov), 43. Pestushko (Mosalev), 45. Graňák (Komarov), 48. Solovyov (Pestushko, Komarov), 50. Gorovikov (Komarov)

Penalties: 4:3 (2 min.) + F. Novák (Dynamo) 10 min (checking to head and neck). Powerplays: 0:1; Shorthanded: 0:0. Officials: Kaukokari, Gofman - Misyur, Raming. Attendance: 10,055.

Lineups:

HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus - Škoula, Kutlák, V. Mihálik, Sigalet, Štajnoch, Mojžíš - Miklík, Ölvecký, Vondrka - Netík, J. Mikúš, Bartovič - M. Daňo, Kukumberg, L. Hudáček - Bakoš, Kolena, T. Mikúš 

Dynamo Moscow: Yeryomenko - Graňák, F. Novak, Jalasvaara, Solovyov, A. Mironov, Boikov, from 30th min. Koryagin - Pestushko, Gorovikov, Komarov - Kokarev, A. Tsvetkov, Karsums - Babenko, K. Volkov, Sopin - Mosalev, Pestunov, Kvapil 

The reprise of last season’s West conference quarter finals started with caution on both sides, but the tempo was good. In the first 8 minutes the visitors outshot Slovan 5:0, but none of their efforts troubled Janus. In the 12^th minute, Ölvecký had two great chances. His first came in a powerplay, but Yeryomenko stopped his shot. With the second, he couldn’t get the puck beyond the prostrate goalie. The first goal came in the 15^th minute with four on four – Mojžíš stretched to swipe the puck between Yeryomenko’s legs. At the other end Graňák had an opportunity, but his shot failed to find the net, and the puck still stayed out in the resulting goalmouth scramble.

In the second period, Slovan held the puck and created chances.  In the 25^th minute Vondrka broke down the left and bore down on goal. In the process of being tripped into the goaltender, the net came off its moorings, with both puck and goalie inside. Anxious moments ensued, as the referee consulted the video arbiter. But the goal was awarded - 2:0! Two minutes later and Dynamo were back in it, Kokarev finishing off after nice work from Karsums and Tsvetkov – 2:1. Janus then had to be at his best to keep out Komarov and Kokarev in the 33^rd and 34^th minutes. A second tense video referral followed soon after, judging as to whether Kukumberg had deliberately used his leg to score from close range. But this time the decision was “No Goal”. Slovan soon righted that wrong – Daňo fed Hudáček, who set up Ölvecký perfectly for a crisp finish – 3:1.

Alas, in the third period, the reigning Gagarin Cup holders taught the home side a lesson. In the 43^rd minute Pestushko’s shot was too good for Janus, then Slovak defenseman Graňák equalized less than two minutes later – 3:3. After a pause to fix the plexiglass, with all the players out on the ice to keep warmed up, Solovyov rounded Janus to give the visitors the lead – 3:4. The perfect comeback was complete in the 50^th minute, Gorovikov scoring at the near post via Janus’s shoulder. The “Sky Blues” had conceded four goals in less than eight minutes, all in evenhanded play. Slovan didn’t throw in the towel - Bakoš came from the blue line to fire home in the 55th minute - but the equalizer didn’t come, even after Čada pulled the goalie in the last minute, leaving the final score 4:5.