The score after the first two games of Czech Extraliga semifinals Vítkovice v. Pardubice is tied

Game 1 (Sat, Mar 19): Vítkovice – Pardubice 4:0 (1:0, 1:0, 2:0)
The key on the way for the first victory was the first period. Pardubice was the better team during the first minutes of the game, for example Jan Kolář I had a great scoring chance at the end of the 8th minute in a breakaway, but the home team goalie Málek saved the day. With time the game became equal and the first period peaked in the opening goal that the captain of home team Jiří Burger scored 16 seconds before the horn.
The second period brought a really equal game, at least until the 28th minute. At 27:52 Rudolf Huna scored the second Vítkovice goal and Pardubice had to move up to a higher gear. For the rest of the second period it was the team of Pardubice that was the better one on the ice, but the players in the red jerseys didn’t create any good scoring opportunities.

The intermission between the second and the third brought a change in thinking of the home team. The Vítkovice players realized that they couldn’t be passive and had to play their own game. Pardubice opened the defensive doors in an effort for maximizing the offensive power, but another two goals in the net of the away team was the result of Pardubice’s offensive maneuvers. The last minutes of a play were played in a sign of multiple Pardubice penalties and Vítkovice could finish the game calmly.

Game 2 (Sun, Mar 20): Vítkovice v. Pardubice 2:3 (0:1, 1:1, 1:1)
The first period of the second game brought exactly a reversed game picture than the opening period of the first game – Vítkovice was the better team and prepared a bigger amount of chances, but Pardubice scored the opening goal late in the last minute of the first period, when Petr Koukal shot a puck that rebounded from Málek into the half-exposed net.

The start of the second period was really cruel for the home team. Zohorna won the faceoff in the offensive zone and Píša scored from the one-touch shot. The hockey during next five minutes was an excruciation for the spectators. Any of the team weren’t able to prepare nice passes to the teammates or to shoot at the goal either. Then away defender Penault was penalized for high sticking and although it was a really bad power play from Vítkovice, finally they used it by Ujčík’s shot. The home team was in an euphoria during the next minutes that brought a big amount of goal chances for Vítkovice and a 1:34 long two-men power play, but it wasn’t used for any goal. The last minute of the second period was played in the direction of the away team, but a big pressure on the defensive line of Vítkovice didn’t  result in a goal.

If Vítkovice would like to equalize the score, they should be the team who would shoot the next goal. But unfortunately for them, Pardubice did it. The 50th minute was written into the game log as a minute when Starý made the Pardubice lead a three-goals lead. After this hit Vítkovice didn’t capitulated. Their players were still continuing with pressure on the Růžička net, but another goal treat for the home fans came too late, at 59:33. Yes, it was fanning the hope, but no more goal was scored in ČEZ Aréna .

The score of the series after the first two games is tied: 1-1 in games. Theext games are scheduled on Wednesday, Mar 16, and Thursday, Mar 17.

 

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