VONDRKA WINS IT FOR SLOVAN!

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - Metallurg Magnitogorsk 4:3 OT (2:1, 1:1, 0:1 - 1:0)

Goals: 5. Bartovič (Netík, Sigalet), 8. Miklík (L. Hudáček, Sersen), 35. Vondrka (Ölvecký, Miklík), 61. Vondrka (Miklík, Sersen) - 1. Zaripov (Moziakin, Jan Kovář), 36. Lee (Jan Kovář, Zaripov), 56. Zaripov (Jan Kovář, J. Biriukov) Penalties: 7:9 (2 min.) + Matoušek - Chabarov (both 5 min for roughing), Powerplays: 1:0, Shorthanded: 0:0. Officials: Beľajev, Soin - Aľošin, Nesterov. Attendance: 9,605.

Lineups:

HC SLOVAN: Kopřiva - Škoula, Kutlák, Sersen, Mojžíš, Štajnoch, Sigalet - Miklík, Ölvecký, Vondrka - Netík, J. Mikúš, Bartovič - Kukumberg, Matoušek, L. Hudáček - Daňo, T. Mikúš, A. Šťastný Metallurg Magnitogorsk: Koshechkin - R. Ibragimov, J. Biryukov, C. Lee, S. Tereshchenko, Malenkikh, Khabarov, F. Metlyuk - Zaripov, Jan Kovář, Mozyakin - Shenfeld, Dmitry Kazionov, Gulash - Timkin, Hodgman, Potekhin - Platonov, Malinovsky, C. O'Reilly - J. Grigorenko

The visitors couldn’t have asked for a better start – inside the first minute Jan Kovář found Zaripov open, and he beat Kopřiva – 0:1. But Slovan didn’t tarry with their reply. In the 5^th minute, Netík picked out Bartovič, who surprised Koshechkin at the near post from an angle – 1:1. The active Netík then had a golden chance himself, but the visitors‘ goalie was able to keep him out. The SLOVNAFT Arena soon had a second goal to celebrate – in the 8th minute Hudáček sailed into the attacking zone and backhanded a cross for the open Miklík to slot home – 2:1. The home team dominated the rest of the first period, thanks in part to a number of powerplays, but did not add to their tally.

The second period started out with missed opportunities for Slovan. First Miklík combining with Sersen, then two minutes later J. Mikúš on the break, then an individual effort from Ölvecký another two minutes later. Further fruitless attempts came from Daňo and Škoula, before Vondrka managed to put daylight between the teams, scooping home in a powerplay after Ölvecký broke away – 3:1. The two-goal lead was pulled back just 30 seconds later - Jan Kovář found defenseman Lee from behind the net, and he gave Kopřiva no chance – 3:2.

In the third period, the returning Šťastný had a great chance to extend the lead again, but Koshechkin smothered his shot. At the other end, Kopřiva kept out Platonov’s attempt to equalize, as the visitors tried to pile on the pressure. A minute of four-on-four play saw chances for Ölvecký and Lee go begging, then Zarapov set up Mozyakin in the 53^rd minute, but the puck sailed over Kopřiva’s net. Vondrka then had a chance to add his second of the evening, but could only find the goalie’s mask. The equalizer eventually came in the 56^th minute, Zaripov finishing off the rebound from Kovář’s shot – 3:3.

Once again, Slovan prevailed in overtime. After less than a minute, Miklík surged away and picked out Vondrka, who buried the puck for a 4:3 victory and a precious two points.