1:3 DEFEAT IN VLADIVOSTOK

Admiral Vladivostok – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 3:1 (0:0, 2:1, 1:0)

Goals: 33. Gynge (Sokolov), 38. Bergfors (Lisin, Osipov), 60. Lisin – 24. Netík (Sersen)

Admiral Vladivostok: Lundström – Osipov, Antropov, Porseland, Ternavsky, Poleshchuk, Kostromitin, Zemchyonok – Lisin, Bergfors, Schütz – Lesnukhin, Drugov, Bortnikov – Kuznetsov, Barbashev, Pervushin – Grachyov, Sokolov, Gynge.
HC SLOVAN Bratislava: Kopřiva – Škoula, Kutlák, Mojžíš, Sersen, Mihálik, Sigalet, Štajnoch – Vondrka, Ölvecký, Miklík – Bartovič, J. Mikúš, Netík – Kukumberg, Matoušek, L. Hudáček – Daňo, Kolena, Kudrna, Bakoš.

Slovan started the game against Admiral Vladivostok - the final game of their longest road trip of the season – with the same lineup that saw them win the previous two games. Kopřiva was called into action early on to keep out efforts from Bergfors, while Kukumberg’s strong 3^rd minute shot was Slovan’s first threat on Lundström’s net. Then with Slovan shorthanded, Ölvecký broke away, only to fire his stellar chance straight at the goalie. Daňo was likewise kept out by Lundström soon after, as was Barbashev at the other end. In the closing seconds, Miklík was somehow unable to turn Vondrka’s pass into the open net.

The second period started well for Slovan. In the 24^th minute, Čada’s charges set up camp in the opposition’s defensive zone, and Netík sent Slovan into the lead – 0:1. The home side created clear chances from a powerplay in the 27^th minute, but Kopřiva was reliable in keeping them all out. But the equalizer did eventually come in the 33rd minute, as Gynge broke out of defense to take on Kopřiva and score between his pads – 1:1. Admiral now began to exert pressure, which told in the 38^th minute as Bergfors shot the home side into the lead – 2:1.

Slovan sought to equalize early in the third period but couldn’t find a way to penetrate the solid Vladivostok defense. In turn, the hosts threatened on the break, keeping Kopřiva’s hands full. Despite strong shots from Netík and Kutlák, not even a Slovan powerplay could bring about parity. Kukumberg missed out too in the 47^th minute, then set up Bartovič for a one-on-one, but Lundström wasn’t fooled by his backhand feint. Slovan continued to be the more active team, but just couldn’t find a decisive finish. Čada’s charges could not find the net in their final powerplay either, leaving Lisin to finish off the match with a goal into the empty net for a 3:1 final score.

Rostislav Čada: It was a fast, hard-fought game, but we can be disappointed by two things. First, that at 1:0 up we committed four fouls, which allowed the home side back into the game. Second, that in the final period we created a number of chances but didn’t convert any of them. I think that given the way we played, we deserved to come away with at least a tie.