High-scoring game gives ultimate victory to Liberec

Bílí Tygři Liberec – HC Sparta Praha 5-4 (1-2; 1-1; 2-1; 0-0; 2-1)

It was an exciting game, full of goals and impressive displays by both teams, which have showed really similar levels of intensity and dedication for the whole duration of the match.

After an early lead by Liberec thanks to a goal by Martin Bakoš, Sparta ends the first period in advantage, with two consecutive goals scored respectively by Miroslav Forman and Petr Kumstát (the latter, on powerplay, a few seconds before the intermission).

Just a couple of minutes after the beginning of the second period, the team from the Czech capital scores again thanks to a good effort of the Slovak Andrej Kudrna, but another powerplay, this time in Liberec’s favour, helps the home team in scoring again. A penalty shootout awarded a few seconds before the second intermission could help the latter to reach a temporary draw, but this time, unfortunately for Liberec, Michal Bulíř fails to score (after having been the author of the aforementioned goal).

The 3rd period started with another goal by Sparta, which reached the temporary advantage of 4 points to 2: but eight minutes later comes the answer from Liberec, which, scoring twice in a minute’s time with Bakoš and Vampola, forces a draw. The overtime, as intense as the rest of the game, ends without further advancements, and shootouts are called: two errors by Sparta Praha give the final victory to the „White Tigers“ of Liberec, which score twice (against the only shootout goal of their opponents) and put themselves at the lead of the league.

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