Třinec gains on Litvínov in the Masaryk Cup Finals

The sold out Ivan Hlinka Arena in Litvínov expected the home home team of Verva to win and get the match-ball in the whole series, as a possible win of Litvínov on Wednesday`s night would mean its lead 0-3 in the best-of-seven series already.

However, Třinec squad sent a message to the audience they are not going to sell their scalps for cheap since the opening face-off already. The Metallurgists opened the game with its typical tremendous pressure thanks to what they extracted the first and only goal in the game yet during the sixth minute of the game.

The goal was scored by Štefan Růžička, a Třinec zero-to-hero player who after causing both previous defeats against Verva now scored a game-winning goal for his team to spark a hope and keep Třinec in play for the Cup.

The goal in Litvínov`s net meant a heads-up for the club of Verva. Skaters in the yellow-black uniforms got rid of the initial nervousity, equalized the tempo and started to shoot from every position.

However the new man in the goal of Oceláři in the series, Peter Hamerlík, disallowed Litvínov shooters of scoring any goals, showing up some spectacular saves, including a Dominator-style save while rebounding the puck by catcher while lying on the ice upside down.

Interestingly, as the two first final games in Třinec were the first ones for Oceláři to lose in the playoffs while playing at home, the first finals game in Litvínov means the first home defeat in the playoffs to Verva as well.

It was the first home loss for Litvínov after 16 games, keeping the streak since December 26, 2014.

VERVA Litvínov vs. OCELÁŘI Třinec 0:1 (0:1, 0:0, 0:0)

The actual score in the final series: Třinec (1st) vs. Litvínov (2nd) 2-1.

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