Another Fine Away Win!

Vityaz Podolsk – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 2:5 (0:1, 0:3, 2:1) 

Goals: 50. Makeyev (Eronen, Saprykin), 56. Makeyev (Afinogenov, Eronen) – 9. Novák (Barker), 25. Bartovič (Surový), 29. Šťastný (Jeglič), 39. Tičar (Nagy, Barker), 60. Bartovič.

Lineups:
HC SLOVAN: Garnett – Barker, Novák, Starosta, Švarný, Kozák, Sersen, Luža – Kašpar, Nedorost, Nagy (A) – Jeglič, Tičar, Šťastný – Surový (C), Viedenský, Bartovič (A) – Skalický, Lušňák, Skokan
Vityaz Podolsk:  Säteri (od 40. Saprykin) – Eronen, Berdyukov, Yezhov, Golovkov, Kudinov, Kostromitin, Voronkov, Peretiagin – Makeyev, Kucheriavenko, Afinogenov – Solodukhin (C), Koksharov, Musatov – Kempe, Horák, Shitikov – Vyglazov, Shvets-Rogovoi, Palola

Garnett was in action within seven seconds of the start, threatened by Makayev's shot from the left circle, but then it was Slovan who produced several early chances. First Tičar had a shot blocked, then Skalický just missed with a backhand, Sersen shot hard at Säteri, followed by Kozák. In the 7th minute, the hosts paid the price for a foul on Patrik Lušňák, as Filip Novák converted the powerplay after 30 seconds with a long range effort – 0:1. Slovan were the more active of the sides, and kept the home team in their own zone through several line changes. Vityaz then won a powerplay chance of their own, but Garnett handled their two shots comfortably. Nagy got free in a two-on-two in the 18th minute, but his shot was directed right at the goalie's mask.

The second period started with a notable chance from Maxim Afinogenov's efforts, but Slovan then took control of the game. The Sky Blues did waste a powerplay first up, but then in the 25th, Surový broke away, and Milan Bartovič followed up to fire in the rebound – 0:2. Just three minutes later, the Slovan second line used an overlap perfectly, ending with a goal for Andrej Šťastný – 0:3. The home side did up their work rate, which produced chances for Berdyukov and Kempe, but Garnett continued to preserve his clean sheet. A minute before the siren, Säter was beaten for the fourth time, Rok Tičar celebrating his finish from between the circles.

In the 41st minute, Nedorost reached the puck from Nagy's pass, but could only find the pad of Saprykin, who had replaced Säteri in the Podolsk net. Vityaz tried hard to find their first goal, a powerplay offering them a chance, but neither Eronen nor Musatov could make it count. The home team finally had a consolation goal to celebrate ten minutes from time, as Makeyev finally beat Garnett in a lone break - 1:4. The wide-open Musatov nearly made it two for the hosts from up close, but our goalie once again proved the difference. Makayev scored his second a few minutes from time, to add a little drama to the closing stages, but the Sky Blues held firm, and a last minute strike from Milan Bartovič crowned another fine victory away from home.

Miloš Říha: We played a very good team game for 40 minutes; we did everything we had discussed before the game. We created a number of chances, and scored four. Our goalie Garnett kept out our opponents' chances. We got a bit nervy after we conceded in the third period, but we brought the game to a successful conclusion. I'm pleased with that, and I must give praise to the whole team.