Slovan survive late scare to hold to victory

The game got off to the worse possible start for the road team, as Chomutov opened the scoring just two and a half minutes into the game. Veteran forward David Hruška found the net after a string of top quality saves by Branislav Konrád. However, SLOVAN started to show the form that saw them defeat KHL giants SKA St. Petersburg, as they got back into the game. Mário Bližňák opened his Slovan account with a lovely piece of skill, before Martin Bakoš scored, just about finding space between Milan Řehoř’s pad and the post from behind the net.

Chomutov led a procession to the penalty box in the second period, and SLOVAN will be disappointed that they did not manage to stretch the advantage. Opportunities were spurned on a long 5 on 3 powerplay, with Miklík missing a golden chance. As it happens, Michal Vondrka scored his first goal in Slovan colours midway through the second stanza, scoring off a textbook give and go play on the odd man rush with Swedish defenceman Josef Boumedienne, leaving Řehoř stranded.

SLOVAN would jump out to a 4:1 lead at the start of the third period, as Vladimír Dravecký found young forward Miroslav Preisinger alone in front of goal, who tapped the puck past the new netminder Matúš Kostúr. However, things began to turn in Chomutov’s favour, as SLOVAN began to take more penalties. The Czech side would go on to score three goals in two and a half minutes to level the score at 4:4. Twelve minutes into the third frame, Andrej Šťastný would capitalise on some great work by line mate Peter Ölvecký, as the young forward managed to score on a rebound after some dogged determination by Ölvecký. However, Chomutov would peg back the advantage to take the game to overtime, with the tying goal coming with six and a half minutes left in the period, on a five on three powerplay.

Overtime settled nothing, so a shootout beckoned. Chomutov opened the shootout but Marek Sikora was denied by Konrád, deflecting the puck away with his blocker. The opening shooter for SLOVAN was Ölvecký, who broke in with speed and fired a quick shot past Kostúr to give the Slovak champions the lead. Nikola Gajovský then shot wide on Chomutov’s second shot, leaving Michel Miklík with the game on his stick. The veteran forward failed to disappoint, firing home to give HC SLOVAN Bratislava victory in the opening game of the 2012 European Trophy. Slovan continue their pre-season preparation on Friday, where they face KHL side Spartak Moscow at the Slovnaft Arena.

Tickets are still available for what should be a brilliant game, as HC SLOVAN look to continue their fine preparation for the new season and pick up their third victory in a row. Spartak Moscow will be a tough test, as they have World Championship silver medallist Branko Radivojevič on their roster, as well as fellow Slovak  Štefan Ružička. Spartak also have Canadian defenceman Shaone Morrisonn on their roster, who is a veteran of nearly 500 NHL games. It will be a tough game, but HC SLOVAN have already shown that they can compete with the best of what the KHL can offer, with their victory over SKA St. Petersburg last week.

Piráti Chomutov – HC SLOVAN Bratislava 5:6 (after penalty shots).
Goals: 3. Hruška (Zálešák), 49. Palin (Hřebejk, Kraft), 50. Hrabak (Ondřej), 51. Procházka (Hruška), 54. Palin (Pulpan) – 10. Bližňák (Miklík, Švarný), 15. Bakoš (Lipiansky), 33. Vondrka (Boumedienne), 42. Preisinger (Dravecký), 53. Šťastný (Ölvecký), 65. Ölvecký
Penalty Minutes: 16:30. Josef Boumedienne 2+10 for checking to the head for Slovan
Referees: Hodek, Turčan – Bejček, Rozílek, Attendance: 3082

Rosters:

Piráti Chomutov:  Řehoř (Kostúr) - Pulpán, Palin, Mazanec, Rýgl, Mrázek, Rutta, Lučka, Macháček - Hřebejk, Kraft, Lušňák - Procházka, Zálešák, Hruška - Hromas, Sikora, Důras - Hrabák, Gajovský, Ondřej 

HC SLOVAN: Konrád (Hostikka) – Boumedienne, Tabaček , Ďatelinka, Printz, Švarný, Štajnoch, Mihálik, Preisinger  - Vondrka, Bližňák, Miklík – Bartánus, Kytnár, Dravecký – Bakoš, Lipiansky, Kukumberg – Ölvecký, A. Šťastný, Daňo

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