Slovan suffer first defeat in pre-season

The game started with a bang, and both teams really upped the tempo compared to previous pre-season games. Michal Vondrka went close in the fourth minute, only to be denied by Marek Schwarz, who also made another good save on a Jonathan Sigalet point shot. Konrád also had to be alert in the early going, as the ever dangerous Petr Ton went close to breaking the deadlock. In the 13^th minute of the opening period, it would be the home crowd, numbering 8,843 who would cheer first, as Roman Kukumberg broke in on the right side of the zone, and slid a backhand past Schwarz to give HC SLOVAN an early lead. However, the lead only lasted two minutes as French forward Yorick Treille managed to find Miroslav Forman alone in front of Konrád, and the Czech forward scored to level the score. Before the end of the first period, HC SLOVAN had a number of chances, but Kytnár and Bližňák couldn’t find the back of the net.

The second period saw HC SLOVAN come out much more aggressively, as they outshot HC Sparta Praha 20:11. Mihalik went close in the early going, before a few seconds later, Marek Schwarz made a great save to deny Vondrka once again, after some brilliant work by Bližňák. It was turning into a duel of the goaltenders, as Konrád was in fine form to deny Ton once again in the 24^th minute. However, in the 26^th minute, a great passage of play by Jánský and Luňák left HC SLOVAN standing, and left Konrád no chance, as the former put the puck into the net. Sparta took a penalty soon after the goal, giving HC SLOVAN another powerplay chance, but this time the Slovak champions would capitalise, as Michal Vondrka scored. Three minutes later saw Sparta re-take the lead though, as Hlinka, who was in the penalty box for HC SLOVAN’s second goal, made amends by scoring from a rebound.

It took less than two minutes for HC SLOVAN to equalise in the third period, as Ölvecký put the puck away after some brilliant work in front of the net by Šťastný. HC SLOVAN couldn’t convert on a later powerplay chance, and unfortunately it was Sparta who would get the all important next goal, as Petr Ton managed to find a way past Konrád. The players couldn’t find a way past Marek Schwarz in the second half of the third period, and their chances of victory were dashed after Štajnoch received a 5+game penalty for roughing with ninety seconds to go. Konrád was pulled with a minute remaining, but HC SLOVAN couldn’t find a way through with the teams playing 5 on 5, and with four seconds to go, Ton scored an empty net goal to finish the game with the score at 3:5, handing HC SLOVAN their first defeat in pre-season

HC SLOVAN Bratislava - HC Sparta Praha 3:5 (1:1,1:2,1:2)
Goals: 13. Kukumberg (Kytnár), 29. Vondrka (Boumedienne, Miklík), 42. Ölvecký (Šťastný) - 15. Forman (Y. Treille, Hanzlík), 26. Jánský (Luňák), 32. Hlinka (Ton), 42. Ton (Gawryletz, Hanzlík), 60. Ton (Tenkrát, Hlinka)
Attendance: 8843
Referees: Baluška, Müllner

by Jon Rowson, www.velvethockey.blogspot.co.uk