2024-03-28 23:59:15
The hockey players from Třinec beat Česká Budějovice 2:0 in the decisive seventh quarterfinal match. The Steelers, who are aiming for a fifth straight title, have finished in the top four every time since 2017/18.
The dramatic series was decided by Miloš Roman, who scored the first goal of the match at 49:32. Home goalkeeper Marek Mazanec kept the third clean sheet in the series. The defending champion will face Sparta in the semi-finals, the series will start on Tuesday in Prague. The second pair consists of Pardubice and Litvínov.
Třinec entered the series confidently. He only conceded for the first time in the third match and led 3:0 for the matches. České Budějovice, which finished second to last last season, did not give up and won the next three matches with a score of 10:3. Motor could become the first team in the history of the playoffs of the Czech Extraliga to turn the series from 0:3, and held a tie until the 50th minute of the seventh match. After that, Roman came through and Viliam Čacho sealed the progress when the opponent risked without a goalkeeper.
“It turned out that even at 3:0 nothing is finished and that the last step is always very difficult,” said the hero of the match, Roman. “From the beginning, we pushed for the goal, and our activity brought us the goal. The main thing was to stay patient, not to get lost just in front, but to keep an eye on things at the back as well. We waited for the right moment and brought the streak to the end,” he added.
Visiting defender Milan Doudera, who won the previous four titles with the Steelers, described the end of the season as difficult and bitter. “But I am proud of the boys, how we returned to the series and how we were able to torment Třinec. We will certainly not evaluate the season negatively. We are glad that we went through such difficult matches that will give us experience for the next seasons,” he added.
The home coaches made several changes after the last defeat. Mazanec returned to the goal area, Daňo, last season’s top scorer, moved into the elite ranks, and Kurovský made his first appearance in the series, replacing Helewka in the third attack.
From the initial throw-in, every centimeter of the ice was fought for, the home team had the first big chance. Růžička had an open goal after a clever pass from Voženílk, but a better finish was prevented by a foul from Beránek and saved the guests from conceding a goal. At the end of the third, the visiting Stencel suffered a bloody scar on his face, but the referees did not rule him out after watching the video.
Even in the second period, both teams concentrated on careful defense, there were no overnumberings. Kubík gave Mazan a scare in the power play, who hit the crossbar and before that he flashed a cheeky penetration. On the other side, Růžička and Hudáček kept Hrachovina busy from close range with dangerous runs.
In the 35th minute, the referees examined a sharp tackle by visiting Kachyna on Dravecký, but did not award a higher penalty and kept two minutes for the attack. In the power play, Nestrasil had the closest to the first change of score, but Hrachovina moved quickly against the shot.
The defending champion started the third period very actively. Already in the first substitution, Daňo finished from close range, but Hrachovin held the guests back again. The chances on the home team’s side were increasing and in the 50th minute they got what they wanted: Polášek shot from the blue line and the puck bounced in front of Roman, who was “yawned” at by the empty goal.
“In such matches, it happens that it bounces off someone’s skates, off someone’s pants. A goal like this often decides and it was confirmed again. Then Třinec expertly took care of it, we actually didn’t even get a chance,” said Doudera.
In the rest of the match, České Budějovice could not create a better chance, and 99 seconds before the end, Simon deprived them of the opportunity to try a six-on-five game with an offensive foul. The guests called off the goalkeeper, but Čacho caught the pass and drove the puck into the empty net.
The South Bohemians sent only ten shots on goal. “If the opponent pushes you, he is better, faster at certain moments, so you have no choice but to wait for your opportunity,” explained České Budějovice coach Ladislav Čihák. He acknowledged that Třinec was a goal better.
Quarterfinals of the Hockey Extraliga playoff – 7th match:
HC Steelers Třinec – Banes Motor České Budějovice 2:0 (0:0, 0:0, 2:0)
Goals and assists: 50. M. Roman (Kurovský, Polášek), 60. Čacho. Referee: Hradil, Hribik – Špůr, Thuma. Exclusion: 3:4. Usage: 1:0. Audience: 5,400 (sold out). Final score of the series: 4:3.
Třinec: Mazanec – Marinčin, Smith, Kundrátek, Nedomlel, Marian Adámek, Polášek – M. Růžička, D. Voženílek, Daňo – L. Hudáček, Cienciala, A. Nestrašil – Kurovský, P. Vrána, M. Roman – Hrehorčák, Čacho , Dravecky. Coach: Moták.
České Budějovice: Hrachovina – Kachyňa, M. Doudera, Pýcha, Štencel, Vráblík, Goulash – Goulash, Kondelík, Ordoš – D. Simon, F. Přikryl, M. Beránek – Valský, Pech, Kubík – M. Toman, Vopelka, Koláček . Trainer: Čihák.