Czech Extraliga season continues, Vítkovice grabbed the fourth game of the finals

10 Apr 2011 | Petr Polák

The players of Třinec were reaching of the first league title in club history. Although they were the better club in all the three previous games of the series, Vítkovice switched to a higher gear and won the unbelievably dramatic game number four in a shootout.

Game Four (Sat, Apr 9):
Vítkovice – Třinec 5:4 SO (2:2, 1:0, 1:2)
The vítkovice crowd didn’t know what cue they should bring to ČEZ Aréna. Their favorite team didn’t demonstrate that game-style what they expected during the first three games. And the start of the fourth one wasn’t better: As soon as in the 5th minute Třinec got the lead again.
But Vítkovice amended its uncertainty quickly: Sýkora’s answer to Bonk’s goal came after just one minute and fifty-seven seconds. The atmosphere in the multifunctional arena for 9471 spectators went cold in the 12th minute again, when Zíb scored the second Třinec goal, but it was better from 18:45 again, because Petr Vrána scored a shorthanded goal for Vítkovice and tied the game.

The first signs of euphoria in Ostrava were recognized about the 35th minute when Húževka used a power play thanks to a very nice one-touch combination across the entire rink; and ten minutes later a special rescue team was prepared to action because of Húževka breakaway. Hamerlík made a great save and the rescue team could stay calm.

A cardiologists help was needed after the half of the third period because Třinec turned-over the score by two goals in two minutes and the Vítkovice fans hearts were under a life-threatening danger.

In the start of the 60th minute the cup for the league winners was already prepared behind the boards as well as the medals and the president of theCzech Ice Hockey Federation Tomáš Král. Král was ready to start a ceremony especially when Peterek was shooting to an empty net of Vítkovice.

But he missed and in 27 seconds Lukáš Klimek and Jan Kána prepared the best medicine for the home-fans’ broken hearts with the equalizer!
Overtime brought a big series of chances on both sides, but we have to write that Vítkovice was the better team during the ten added minutes. No goal was scored and the shootout took its place.

The first shot was performed by Ondřej Šedivý (Vítkovice) and he showed a really nice deke and scored a goal into the empty net. Also the second home-team penalty shot executor Ujčík succeeded by a wrist shot on the glove. Any of the two Třinec players didn’t score a goal into Málek’s net and Vítkovice started celebrating their first victory in the series.

The final series will continue on Tuesday, Apr 12, in Třinec.