Controversy and Drama Surrounding Pardubice vs Třinec Playoff Series in Tipsport Extraliga – Full Coverage

The big topic of game number two was the attempt of Pardubice players to throw the goalkeeper Kacetl, who had the lion’s share in the opening victory of the Steelers, at all costs. And although Dynamo coach Marek Zadina said after his team’s 6:3 victory in the second game that the opponent will go to Willo on the other side in the same way, Antoš does not agree with this opinion.

“It’s not true, this usually doesn’t happen. “I didn’t see a single Třinec player who, in uninterrupted play, went after Will in the corner and pushed him there,” said the former striker.

“What happened in the second game is higher. It is one thing to be hard on the goalkeeper in the area in front of the goal. But this clearly encouraged Kacetl. Not only deliberate braking, but also drive​​​​ Pardubice players to Kacetl from the throw-in points, when the goalkeeper has been caught for a long time. Kacetl goes to the corner in the broken play and Dynamo players rush after him to encourage him…

It is certain that it is solely up to the referees to cut off a Kacetlo-like raid. “They have to say, not like this. The referees must disqualify for such things. And it’s not that they stand and leave it to the defenders, let them protect their own goalkeeper, who tries to hide from the attack by going to the corner of the pitch,” judges Antoš .

And he himself is curious if there will be a change on the part of the referees in the third part of the series in Silesia on Saturday. Because he doesn’t expect Pardubice to fundamentally change their style of play. “Referees should be more consistent. “Either they will start punishing him, or Třinec players will start defending their goalkeeper much more aggressively,” said Antoš.

The question remains whether the Steelers will be able to use the services of defender Martin Marinčin. At the end of the first period of the second game, the most used player of Třinec left the game after sending Lukáš Sedlák to the goal post. Judges, they did not dismiss, but according to Antoš, they did.

“It was a late finish and Sedlák should have been penalized for two minutes. It would be fatal for Třinec if Marinčin could not play, and the Steelers would lose their second main defender after Jeřábek. Marinčin is playing well and is one of the best defenders in Třinec. Not only in passing and on the power play, but in general in movement and behavior on the ice,” Antoš knows.

According to Sport.cz, the X-ray examination did not give Marinčín the darkest condition. “It’s two days off, and if it’s just a bump on the coccyx or a closed back, maybe it can be moved and maybe Marinčin could jump in. But we’ll see on Saturday,” says Antoš.

In the new episode of the show Zaostřeno in the playoff, he also stopped with Richard Pánik. At the end of the first final, the Slovakian forward Pardubic first hit the forward Třinec Hrehorčák with his foot in the head, and received a minor penalty and later a financial fine from the umpire.

“Of course it was deliberate and I was surprised it was only a fine. It was a clear inspiration,” Antoš is convinced.

A day later came Panik’s flight. In the 50th minute, in the game that was interrupted, he hit the defender Šenkeřík in the face with his hockey stick. “I don’t understand at all why he responded like that. And I was also surprised by the comments of the referee Stan in the game, that nothing happened, that Pánik wanted to throw the puck away and it was just a fluke. But this was in a broken game, he should let the puck lie, continue driving and not raise his stick,” Antoš marvels.

“Again, clear intent to hit the player. It was for a reason. The penalty should be much higher when it happened in a suspended game,” continued Antoš, and it is not at all surprising to coach Zadin that he let Pánik sit out from that moment.

“I understand Mark Zadin completely. Moments like this can affect the development of the entire series. We do not see inside, what is the relationship between Pánik and Třinec, where he worked until January. We don’t know how they broke up and if it’s not now about Panik’s revenge,” Antoš thinks out.

How does he think the series will develop now in the third and fourth game in Silesia? “Honestly, I’d rather expect 2-2 after four games than someone leading 3-1. But anything can happen, because Pardubice is more relaxed,” he concludes.