The hockey players of Třinec won the fifth game of the semi-finals of the extra league play off on the ice of Pardubice 4:2, they lead 3:2 in the series and can secure a place in the finals on Wednesday.
Captain Martin Růžička, who already has 59 goals in the playoffs and equaled Ondřej Kratěna’s record, scored two goals to help the reigning champions win.
After the previous defeat at home, the Steelers changed the composition of three of the four attacks, but they still lacked the best scorer of the regular season, Daňo.
The home team created pressure after a while and Kacetl could not complain about the lack of work. In the 4th minute, Hyka and Sedlák checked him, three minutes later Kousal was close to opening the score. Kacetl, however, knocked out his prompt stop.
Třinec, as in previous matches, did not shoot much and waited for a chance. Hudáček and Růžička in particular tested Will, who drove into ideal positions, but the Pardubice goalkeeper was ready.
The goalless situation changed after 50 seconds of the second period, when Kacetl just deflected Kousal’s hard shot and Zohorna promptly arrived with the puck. However, Slezáné equalized in the 25th minute when a Čukste defender, playing in the playoffs for the first time, scored from the blue line.
The goal scored encouraged the Steelers and they were much more dangerous than Dynamo. Kurovský hit the post, but Růžička already secured the lead for the visitors in the 33rd minute. Captain Třince took advantage of Will’s obscured view.
A minute later, Košťálek was sent off and the visitors took advantage of the first power play. Růžička prevailed again. At that moment, the East Bohemians were playing with three, because Sedlák broke his hockey stick and went to the substitution table to get a new one.
Dynamo was shaken, but in the second half they managed to reduce Hudáček’s penalty. Pardubice could not settle in the attacking zone for almost two minutes, but 1.1 seconds before the end of the period Mandát Adam Musil scored, from which the puck bounced behind Kacetl.
Říček could have equalized in the 42nd minute, but Kacetl was ready. Both teams subsequently played power plays in which they did not score a goal. The closest to scoring was Voženílek, whose break was eliminated by Will. In the 52nd minute, Kacetl distinguished himself against Cienciala’s shot.
The home team did not manage to equalise, on the contrary, they conceded for the fourth time on the power play. Kurovský’s goal was preceded by a foul on Říčka, but the referees did not stop the game.
Semi-finals of the hockey extraliga play off – 5th match:
HC Dynamo Pardubice – HC Steelers Třinec 2:4 (0:0, 2:3, 0:1)
Goals and assists: 21. T. Zohorna (R. Kousal), 40. A. Musil (Mandát) – 25. Čukste (Marcinko, J. Jeřábek), 33. M. Růžička (Chmielewski), 34. M. Růžička ( J. Jeřábek), 59. Kurovský (Nestrasil). Referee: Kika, Šindel – J. Svoboda, Hynek. Exclusion: 3:4, plus T. Zohorna – Nestrašil both 5 min. Usage: 1:1. Audience: 10,194 (sold out). Series status: 2:3.
Pardubice: Will – Košťálek, T. Dvořák, Čerešňák, D. Musil, J. Kolář, Vála – Hyka, L. Sedlák, Cienciala – Radil, T. Zohorna, R. Kousal – Vondráček, A. Musil, Mandát – Paulovič, Reed, River. Coach: R. Rulík.
Třinec: Kacetl – Marinčin, Smith, Kaňák, J. Jeřábek, Marian Adámek, M. Doudera, Čukste – Kurovský, Miloš Roman, Nestrašil – M. Růžička, Marcinko, Chmielewski – Dravecký, D. Voženílek, L. Hudáček – Hrňa, P. Vrána, Svacina. Coach: Moták.
