First blood to Slovan in the European Trophy

In a hotly contested match, HC Slovan Bratislava won their second pre-season game in a row, but needed penalty shots to defeat a tough Piráti Chomutov side in the opening game of the European Trophy. The Czech outfit scored four times in the final period to take the game to the extra frame, but goals from Peter Ölvecký and Michel Miklík in the shootout sealed victory for HC Slovan.

The game got off to the worse possible start for the road team, as Chomutov opened the scoring just two and a half minutes into the game. Veteran forward David Hruška found the net after a string of top quality saves by Branislav Konrád. However, Slovan started to show the form that saw them defeat KHL giants SKA St. Petersburg, as they got back into the game. Mário Bližňák opened his Slovan account with a lovely piece of skill, before Martin Bakoš scored, just about finding space between Milan Řehoř’s pad and the post from behind the net.

Chomutov led a procession to the penalty box in the second period, and Slovan will be disappointed that they did not manage to stretch the advantage. Opportunities were spurned on a long 5 on 3 powerplay, with Miklík missing a golden chance. As it happens, Michal Vondrka scored his first goal in Slovan colours midway through the second stanza, scoring off a textbook give and go play on the odd man rush with Swedish defenceman Josef Boumedienne, leaving Řehoř stranded. 

Slovan would jump out to a 4:1 lead at the start of the third period, as Vladimír Dravecký found young forward Miroslav Preisinger alone in front of goal, who tapped the puck past the new netminder Matúš Kostúr. However, things began to turn in Chomutov’s favour, as Slovan began to take more penalties. The Czech side would go on to score three goals in two and a half minutes to level the score at 4:4. First it was Canadian defenceman Brett Palin, ghosting into the high slot and firing the shot top corner, before Zdeněk Ondřej outmuscled Swedish defenceman David Printz, and cut a rut to the net, dishing to Radek Hrabak who fired past Konrád. Chomutov were not done yet though, as David Hruška picked Ján Tabaček’s pocket at the blueline, before finding Milan Procházka, who fired home. Just over a minute later, Andrej Šťastný would capitalise on some great work by line mate Peter Ölvecký, as the young forward managed to score on a rebound after some dogged determination by Ölvecký, giving Slovan a one goal lead.  However, Chomutov would peg back the advantage to take the game to overtime, with the tying goal coming with six and a half minutes left in the period, on a five on three powerplay.

Overtime settled nothing, so a shootout beckoned. Chomutov opened the shootout but Marek Sikora was denied by Konrád, deflecting the puck away with his blocker. The opening shooter for Slovan was Ölvecký, who broke in with speed and fired a quick shot past Kostúr to give the Slovak champions the lead. Nikola Gajovský then shot wide on Chomutov’s second shot, leaving Michel Miklík with the game on his stick. The veteran forward failed to disappoint, firing home to give HC Slovan Bratislava victory in the opening game of the 2012 European Trophy.

 

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