Photo: Jan Beneš, hcsparta.cz
Třinec continues to live the dream of breaking Vsetín’s extra-league record in the number of consecutive titles. In the fifth semi-final match, the Steelers won 3:2 in Prague’s O2 arena and reduced the series to 2:3.
Who else should turn the series from 0-3 to 4-3 but us? the Steelers said to themselves after failing to enter the semi-finals.
Four extra-league golds in a row gave them the confidence to make that statement. During the previous championship runs, Třinec managed a number of crisis moments, the team pulled together and acquired a winning mentality.
The determination of the Steelers was already well known in Sunday’s match, when they inflicted Sparta’s first defeat in this year’s playoffs, and it was confirmed two days later in Prague. Třinec literally flew into the game, outshot the opponent 13:5 in the first period and used the pressure to score a two-goal blockbuster.
From the middle part, Sparta gradually got into the game and started to be significantly more active than Třinec, who perhaps too godlikely retreated into defense (in the third period they only shot on goal!).
The enormous pressure from Prague almost resulted in a last-minute equaliser. First, in the 58th minute, Filip Chlapík gave Prague hope with his second goal of the match. And a moment later, precisely 110 seconds before the end of the third period, it seemed that the O2 arena would get an addition in the form of overtime.
But…
In the end, Sparta’s equalizing goal was disallowed by the referee after a challenge from the Steelers’ coach. Jani Lajunen was standing with his skates in the goal area and also fell on Ondřej Kacetl, preventing him from hitting the goal post.
So this tense semi-final series is not over yet! Let us remind you that the sixth act is scheduled for Thursday in Třinec.
HC SPARTA PRAGUE – HC OCELÁŘI TŘINEC 2:3 (0:2, 1:0, 1:1)
Goals and saves: 40. Chlapík (Krejčík, Vitouch), 58. Chlapík (Kempný, Horák) – 10. Daňo (Cienciala), 13. Mar. Adámek (Dravecký, L. Hudáček), 57. Helewka (Hrehorčák, Kundrátek).
Referee: Hribik, Ondráček – Ondráček, Hynek.
Exclusion: 1:2.
No use.
Shots on goal: 21:21.
Spectators: 14 208.
The best players: Filip Chlapík – Ondřej Kacetl.
Series status: 3:2.
HC Sparta Prague: Kovář – Kempný, Mozík, Krejčík, Mikliš, Němeček, Irving, Moravčík – D. Vitouch, Horák, Chlapík – Buchtele, Sobotka, Forman – Konečný, Lajunen, Harper – Hrabík, O. Najman, P. Kousal. Coaches: Gross and Hořava.
HC Ocelarí Třinec: Kacetl – Smith, Marinčin, Nedomlel, Kundrátek, Šenkeřík, Mar. Adámek – Nestrašil, Čacho, Hrehorčák – Daňo, Cienciala, L. Hudáček – Voženílek, Helewka, M. Růžička – M. Roman, Vrána, Dravecký. Coaches: Mottos of the Országh.
Testimonials from coaches
Pavel Gross (coach of Sparta Prague): “Congratulations to Třinc on the well-deserved victory. We made it a little interesting at the end, but it didn’t work out. We’re leading 3:2 and we’re moving on. That’s how simple and beautiful hockey is.”
Zdeněk Moták (Třinec coach): “An excellent first period from our side. Active, aggressive. In the second, we let the home team push us. We were suddenly not very active, we were getting under pressure. In the third period there was a combination of wanting to be active, but Sparta showed strength. She pushed us. But we gave a selfless performance, every single one. On all fronts, in all positions. I thank and congratulate the players.”
Editing
Another program of the TELH playoff semifinals
Thursday 11 April – Match 6:
17:00 HC Steelers Třinec – HC Sparta Prague (O2 TV Sport)
Saturday 13th April – Possible Game 7:
13:00 HC Sparta Prague – HC Oceláři Třinec (O2 TV Sport)
Dates of the TELH playoff final
April 16, 17, 20, 21, or 24, 26 and 28.
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