/UPDATED, PHOTO GALLERY/ It didn’t even come out at home. After two losses in Prague (0:3 and 2:3 in overtime), the hockey Steelers failed to stop the unfavorable development of the extraleague play-off semi-final with Sparta on the ice of the Werk Arena. On Saturday, they lost 2:3 in extra time and in the series, which continues in Třinec on Sunday, April 7 from 18:00, they are losing 0:3 in matches.
The third match of the semi-finals of the hockey extra league Oceláři Třinec – Sparta Prague 2:3 in overtime (April 6, 2024). | Photo: Petr Rubal
The Steelers, defending their championship title, had to do without Voženílk, who was suspended for two games by the disciplinary committee for a foul on Chlapík in the second semi-final and failed to appeal. Home coach Zdeněk Moták also unexpectedly missed the injured goalie Mazanka from the morning skating session.
Sparta, which has not yet known the bitterness of defeat in this year’s playoffs, kicked off the third semi-final in style. She took the lead in the 6th minute after Buchtela’s finish. Třinec answered only in the second period, when the puck arrived behind Kovář’s back on Cienciala’s second attempt on the power play.
Voženielek did not succeed with resistance, the stop sign from the disciplinarian is valid. How did Ocelář defend himself?
The stalemate lasted twelve minutes. Sparta also used their power play, when after a pass from Chlapík, Kacetla beat Řepík. The Steelers tried to send the duel to overtime, which Kundrátka managed in the 57th minute after assists from Hrehorčák and Čach.
Třinec continued to press, but in the 71st, Šenkeřík had to go to the penalty bench, and Kacel sweated a lot in the following moments, and the post helped him with Chlapík’s shot. Krejčík overcame him only in the 75th minute. Sparta won the match point, the Steelers are threatened with the end of the season.
The master from Třinec has to catch up, he stumbled in Prague. Řepík scored the win for Sparta
Testimonials from coaches
Zdeněk Moták (Steelmen): “Another of the close games, we got back into overtime with a goal three minutes from the end. Even in overtime we had a quality game, I don’t want to make excuses for bad luck or luck. We need to get pucks into the goal area so that they bounce behind the opponent’s goal line. We will not give up and we will continue to work.”
Pavel Gross (Sparta): “We assumed that every game in this series is difficult. We are prepared that it will be hard and long. Třinec is an excellent team, they have won the league four times and we know why. Even today’s match was not easy for us, but we helped ourselves with the power plays that we have struggled with so far. We’re happy for that, but it’s only one point. We’re moving on.”
Třinec returns from Prague empty-handed, the final is getting away from the champion
Hockey extra league – third match of play-off semi-finals:
Steelers Třinec – Sparta Prague 2:3 after extra time (0:1, 1:1, 1:0 – 0:1)
Goals and saves: 24. Cienciala (Helewka, Daňo), 57. Kundrátek (Hrehorčák, Čacho) – 6. Buchtele (Lajunen, Mikliš), 36. Řepík (Chlapík, Moravčík), 75. Krejčík. Referee: Hribik, Pilný – Jiří Svoboda, Hynek. Exclusion: 5:4, plus Kempný (Sparta) 5 minutes to the end of the game. Use: 1:2. Shots on goal: 38:36. Spectators: 5400 (sold out). Series status: 0:3.
Steel workers Třinec: Kacetl – Marinčin, Smith, Kundrátek, Nedomlel, Adámek, Šenkeřík, Polášek – M. Růžička, Nestrašil, Cienciala – L. Hudáček, Helewka, Daňo – Kurovský, Vrána, M. Roman – Hrehorčák, Čacho, Dravecký. Coaches: Mottos of the Országh.
Sparta Prague: J. Kovář – Mozík, Kempný, Mikliš, Krejčík, Irving, Němeček, Moravčík – Řepík, Sobotka, Forman – Chlapík, Horák, D. Vitouch – Konečný, Lajunen, Buchtele – P. Kousal, O. Najman, Hrabík. Coaches: Gross and Hořava.
