Czechia triumphs over Slovakia in rivalry clash

Czechia - Slovakia 4-2

Czechia set the tone early, exploiting turnovers for two quick goals. The opener came short-handed at 11:12 when Matej Mastalirsky intercepted a power-play drop pass and fed Vojtěch Hradec, who scored with a sharp shot past Alan Lendak. Minutes later, Pavel Šimek extended the lead to 2-0 with a blazing rush up the middle, thanks to a pinpoint pass from Adam Jecho.

Slovakia’s determination shone through as they weathered relentless Czech pressure. Their persistence paid off when Peter Cisar’s point shot found the back of the net through traffic, cutting the deficit to 2-1. The Slovak bench erupted in energy, inspired by their players’ courageous shot-blocking efforts.

However, Czechia responded quickly. Mastalirsky and Šalé combined for a textbook two-on-one play, restoring a two-goal cushion at 3-1 before the intermission.

Šalé struck again in the third, capitalizing on another odd-man rush with a crisp shot assisted by Miroslav Holinka, making it 4-1. However, the game took a turn when Czech forward Vojtěch Čihař delivered a dangerous hit on Miroslav Šatan, earning a major penalty and game misconduct. Šatan, shaken from the collision, did not return.

Slovakia capitalized on the extended power play as Dalibor Dvorský unleashed a laser shot to reduce the deficit to 4-2. Despite the late push, Czech goaltender Michael Hrabal stood tall, finishing with 25 saves and a 92.59% save percentage to seal the win.

Czechia faces Sweden in a battle for supremacy, while Slovakia must regroup quickly for their must-win game against Kazakhstan. With playoff and relegation implications on the line, every shift counts.

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