2:4 DEFEAT IN OPENING GAME

Donbass Doneck – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 4:2  (1:0, 1:1, 2:1)

Goals: 3. Kašpar (Piganovich, Kagarlitsky), 22. Beluchin (Wilson), 52. Yakucena (Piganovich), 59. Kolář – 35. Daňo (Mikúš), 45. Bartovič (Kolena, Sigalet)

Lineups

Donbass Doneck: Laco  – Kolar, Piganovič, Wilson, Podhradský, Bartulis, Razin, Silnicky – Pettersson, Wirtanen, Laine – Yakucena, Beluchin, Dadonov – Kagarlicky, Robitaille, Kaspar – Blagoj, Varlamov, Šalimov
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Janus  – Sersen, Škoula, Sigalet, Kutlák, Štajnoch, Mojžíš, Mihálik – Miklík, Bližňák, Bartovič – Netík, J. Mikúš, Vondrka – Kukumberg, Olvecký, Hudáček, Mráz, Kolena, T. Mikúš, Daňo.

The first game of the season didn’t start well for Slovan. In the third minute, Czech defenseman Lukáš Kašpar’s shot from the blue line beat Janus – 1:0. The home side continued to be more active, Slovan unable to create chances even in a powerplay. Kašpar could have added a second in the 11^th minute, but Janus blocked his shot. Towards the end of the period, Mojžíš and Vondrka did have chances, but didn’t shoot on target.

The second period again began with pressure from the hosts. Janus  managed to stop Wirtanen’s shot, but just a minute later Beluchin got the crowd going with a perfect touch on Wilson’s shot – 2:0. Bližňák and Bartovič then sniffed an opportunity, but the latter was unable to beat Laco from a tight angle. In the 28^th minute, Shalimov was presented with a great chance, but failed to beat Janus. Our netminder prepared for Lukáš Kašpar as well, when he attempted to sneak in from behind the net. In the 33th minute, Slovan failed to make a five-on-three advantage count, but they made up for it when five-on-five – Mikúš set up Daňo, who swiped home to halve the deficit – 2:1. The final minutes of the period belonged to the home team, who nevertheless failed to capitalize on a four-minute powerplay.

In the 41^st minute, Kagarlicky cause Janus problems with a challenging shot, but it was Slovan who scored next, Bartovič getting a touch on Kutlák’s shot to guide the puck past Laco – 2:2. Alas, the hosts restored their lead seven minutes from the end via a powerplay, Yakucena’s shot into the top corner giving Janus no chance – 3:2. And Ján Kolář shot into an empty net two minutes from time to  seal a 4:2 victory for the Ukrainians.