Three games, three wins for HC SLOVAN

They faced a tough test in Branko Radivojevič and his Spartak Moscow side, but Rostislav Čada’s team were victorious in front of nearly 9,000 cheering fans, as HC Slovan won the game 3:1. Milan Bartovič, Libor Hudáček and Jonathan Sigalet both played their first games of the pre-season.

HC SLOVAN Bratislava – Spartak Moscow 3:1 (0:0, 1:1, 2:0)

Goals: 23. Vondrka (Švarný, Lipiansky), 45. Tabaček, 51. Bakoš (Kukumberg, Preisinger) – 34. Shkenin Shots on goal: 29:20 Attendance: 8765

HC Slovan Roster: Hostikka (Konrád) - Boumedienne, Tabaček (A), Vondrka, Bližňák, Miklík - Mihalik, Printz, Bartovič, Lipiansky (C), Dravecký - Švarný, Štajnoch, Bakoš, Preisinger, Kukumberg (A) - Sigalet, Ölvecký, A. Šťastný, Daňo - Bartánus, Hudáček 

Spartak: Murphy (Borisov) – Bodrov, Nakládal, Ščitov, Morrisonn, Šefer, Mamkin, Budkin, Gavrilyčev – Radivojevič, Škenin, Lewandowski, Ružička, Bušuev, Nikoncev, Žmakin, Gordeev, Kuzmin, Junkov, Gubin, Kaširskij 

Ville Hostikka made 19 saves in his debut game for HC Slovan as the team recovered from a disappointing defensive effort against Chomutov to restrict their Russian opponents to just twenty shots. Both teams went back and forth in the first period, as HC Slovan had a number of good chances, forcing a number of saves from Spartak’s Canadian netminder Mike Murphy, with Roman Kukumberg going close in the opening frame.

The second period began with a bang, as Czech forward Michal Vondrka scored for the second game in a row to the delight of the home fans. Vondrka was the first to the rebound off of Murphy’s pads from an Ivan Švarný point shot and he tapped the puck home to give HC Slovan a one goal lead. There were some moments of concern for the home side, as Hostikka took a knock in the second period, but the Finnish netminder carried on, making a number of good stops. However, he could do nothing about the equalising goal, as Nikolai Shkenin was left unmarked from the behind the goal, and had all the time in the world to pick his spot and score.

HC Slovan were not to be denied though, and four minutes into the third frame, defenceman Ján Tabaček was able to pounce on a misplaced puck and enter a 2 on 1 break for the home side. Tabaček didn’t need his teammate though, as the veteran fired a wicked slapshot from the left circle which nestled in the top corner of Mike Murphy’s net, reinstating HC Slovan’s one goal lead. The Slovak champions kept on the offensive, and eventually their efforts were rewarded with a third goal. Good work by linemates Miroslav Preisinger and Roman Kukumberg created carnage in the slot in front of Murphy’s goal, and Martin Bakoš was able to get his stick on the puck and fire it into the goal.

The final two minutes saw the thousands in attendance rise to their feet, cheering on the team to their third pre-season victory in a row, and applaud the fine work that Rostislav Čada and his players have put in so far. Next match will  HC SLOVAN play in the European Trophy on the 10^th of August against UPC Vienna Capitals. Tickets are still available for this game at the Slovnaft Arena.

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