Two wins make perfect European Trophy day for the Czechs

Both matches not only showed how close the level is in European club hockey but also proofed once more the high quality of the Czech Extraliga.

HC Slovan Bratislava - HC Sparta Praha 3-5

After two shootout wins in their first two European Trophy appearances this season against Chomutov and Vienna, KHL newcomers HC Slovan Bratislava received their first loss in game three. In front of a good-filled Slovnaft Arena (8843 spectators) the hosts had the better start and Roman Kukumberg opened the score with 12:16 played. This wasn't too impressive for the guests as Miroslav Forman scored the equalizier just two and a half minutes later. In the second half Slovan continued to be the more actime team but Peter Jansky turned the result around early. In a 5 on 4 power play Michal Vondrka tied the match around "half time" before Jaroslav Hlinka gave the answer three minutes later. In an even last period Petr Ton's goal at 1:27 for the 2-4 seemed to be decisive before Per Ölvecky brought Slovan back into distance within only 14 (!) seconds. In what should stay an open ending phase both sides had major opportunities but in the end it was Petr Ton whose empty-netter in a power play set a point behind the match. With this win Sparta placed themselved immediately behind Slovan in the South Division with one point less but also two games more left.

The star awards of this match went to Peter Jansky (Sparta), Peter Ölvecky and Andrej Stastny (both Slovan).

Bili Tigry Liberec - HC Fribourg-Gottéron 5-3

Around 1000 fans came to the small Svijanská aréna in Liberec to see the ET opener of their local hockey team against the NLA's Fribourg-Gottéron. It also was the first game to be played in the East Division. In a match of two teams that were always in the lottery for the domestic league title in recent years, Liberec immediately looked for the first goal. Despite a good first period they had to wait for the second where Tomas Urban made it 1-0 after 1:28 in power play. Already 40 seconds later American forward Greg Mauldin who is in his first season with the Swiss team scored the equalizier. The home side did follow their way and goals by Daniel Spacek and David Havir put them with 3-1 in front. With 5 minutes to go in the period Romain Loeffel kept the hopes for Swiss points alive. In the last period Jaroslav Kudrna made it 4-2 before Greg Mauldin with his second of the day kept the game close again late in the game. When Fribourg had to risk everything and pulled out their goalie it was again Kudrna whose empty-netter made it 5-3.

The three stars of the match were Liberec 40 year old star player Petr Nedved who assisted to the first three goals of his team, Fribourg's two time goal scorer Greg Mauldin and Tomas Urban (1 goal, 1 assist).

 

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