2013 CZE QFs: Zlín and Slavia open the series with two home wins

Zlín (1st) vs. Vítkovice (9th) 2-0 (3:1, 2:1, - : - , - : -)

Before the series a big advantage was on side of PSG Zlín. The Czech Extraliga regular season champion
earned not only the CIHA President's Trophy award, but also eleven days long off-period after its last
regular season game against Pardubice and the first quarterfinals game against Vítkovice. On the other
hand Vítkovice, as the nineth team after regular season, had to fight for a quarterfinal ticket in a best-of-
five series against České Budějovice(8th). And it was an exhausting series for the Ostrava team as it did
not end earlier than during the third overtime of the Game Five (what also stated the Czech Extraliga's
new record in length of a game: 113 minutes and 51 seconds; all preliminary round scores: 0:3, 4:0, 1:2,
5:1, 3:2 OT). After the series Vítkovice got only two days long rest before the quarterfinals.

Because of that it was expected Zlín will skate into both home games in a pretty sharp way. And in
the Game One, they did so. The Vítkovice goalie Filip Šindelář was under a big pressure and it seemed
only as a question of time when he'll cash up the first goal. But contrary, Zlín's start to the Game Two
was really calm. Not only that the home team didn't use any of two powerplays they got in the game
beginnings, but they even received a shorthanded goal by Jiří Burger.

Then both games became quite similar: Zlín was the better team, built up many chances and scored
some goals. Oftenly the only way how Vítkovice players were able to prevcent Zlín of scoring a goal was
to foul. In total of both games Vítkovice received eighteen minor penalties, two misconduct penalties
(10'; Petr Kolouch and Roman Szturc) and one game misconduct penalty (5'+OK; Marek Malík) what
might face as one of key factors for upcoming re-games in Ostrava.

If Vítkovice players were not tired enough after the long preliminary round series against Č.Budějovice,
those neverending shorthandeds from games one and two would not help them to save powers for
upcoming home matches at all. On the other hand guys from Zlín should work on powerplays, because
so far they have turned to goal only one of them,

Next games: 14. and 15.3. at Vítkovice

Slavia Prague (2nd) vs. Kladno (7th)  2-0 (4:0, 3:1, - : - , - : -)

During the regular season stage Slavia earned the same ammount of points to the league standings as
Zlín did. But because during the regular season Slavia lost three of four mutual games, the Prague team
ended second. But after all the only factical differece between situation of Slavia's and Zlín's is Slavia
didn't received any cup after the regular season. But they also had 11 days to relax before the playoffs
as well as Zlín, what probably is more relevant in a view of chances on getting of the most important
cup after end of the playoffs. Kladno fighted out its quarterfinals competency in the preliminary round

against the last season's champion Pardubice, and as well as Vítkovice Kladno finnished the series
yet during the series' fifth game, even that it was not so long as the Vítkovice's one was (Kladno's
preliminary round results: 2:1, 3:2OT, 1:3, 2:3SO, 1:0).

The first game of the quarterfinal series went to Slavia at all. The team from Czech capital city was much
more relaxed and was skating like flying. So it was no surprisse Slavia scored three goals in 52 minutes
even that Lukáš Chábera in the net of Kladno was doing very good job. Then Chábera skated out of the
ice and let Lukáš Cikánek to also absorp the playoffs atmosphere. However Cikánek's appearence in the
game didn't face much lucky as he encashed one goal immediately the game has started. By the way this
was the game number 1.000 for Slavia's defender Petr Kadlec who celebrate the anniversary with two
assistances.

The Game Two was more equal. Even that Slavia opened the score yet during the 6th minute of game,
Kladno tied it up in eleven minutes to make it 1:1. Then both teams were playing carefully in both
defenzive and neutral zones, refusing to make even one mistake what might face a fatal one. After all
it was Slavia who scored a goal, even Kladno did no mistake at all, because when Kadlec sent a puck
on Chábera during the 37th minute, the puck's way didn't lead to Kladno's net directly. It touched Petr
Jelínek's stick at first, so the puck changed its trajectory of move and felt into the net. If you expected
Kladno to put Slavia under destroying pressure then, you would be wrong. Players of the team owned
by Jaromír Jágr probably were too much tired to do so. And even they played an empty net powerplay
during last minute of the game, they didn't score a goal, but they received one.

Next games: 14. and 15.3. at Kladno

Plzeň (3rd) vs. Litvínov (6th) 1-1 (0:1, 2:1, - : - , - : -)

After a great first half of the regular season Plzeň turned quite unlucky while finnishing it in the third
place as one time their lead in the league standings was twelve points big. Litvínov experienced quite
calm regular season, the team was still moving around the sixth place what faced its final position after
all.

Fans in Plzeň could see two very equal games on last Friday and Saturday. The first one ended up with
a Litvínov victory 0:1. The only goal-scorer of the day faced up František Lukeš who used a powerplay in
the 21st minute. Plzeň was then closest to tying the score during the 52nd minute of play while holding
a 52 seconds long two man powerplay, but the home team did not build any serious chance at all during
the powerplay.

The second game was more interesting to spectators. It brought up three goals and three fights. Even
it was Litvínov who opened the score yet in 4th minute, after all it was Plzeň who was more lucky: Jiří
Hanzlík tied the score yet in the 7th minute and the score list was closed by Kratěna eleven minutes
before the last horn. All the goals were powerplay ones.

12. and 13.3.2013 at Litvínov, 16.3. at Plzeň

Třinec 4th vs. Sparta Prahue (5th)  1-1 (4:0, 3:4SO, - : - , - : -)

This series should be the most equal one. At least according to the league's final standings because
Třinec ended up in the forth and Sparta in the fifth position.

But Třinec tried to refuse this assumption yet in the first game of the quarterfinals. The home team
destroyed Sparta with three powerplay goals while only the second one was done during 5-on-5 play.
Needness to say, if Sparta should blame anybody of the lost, it might be themselves only, even they
were desperately running out of luck also. However Petr Ton was unable to score any of two penalty
shots against Třinec and the home team's goal to make it 2-0 went on bill of Sparta's goalie Marek Pinc.

The another game one day later was pretty equal. Sparta defended of pointless fouls and went to the
lead three times during the game. But Třinec was able to tie it up everytime so the game had to be
decided in shootouts. This time Petr Ton was finally able to score a goal and after all he is also the guy
who scored the game winning-goal.

Next games: 12. and 13.3.2013 at Sparta, 16.3. at Třinec

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