Kladno fans prepared a banner for Smoleňák to welcome him back. In the first third, however, the energized reinforcement gave them more trouble. She allowed herself to be sent off twice, and especially the duel with Zachar in the corner of the visitors’ defensive zone was very unpleasant for the East Bohemians. So much so that after the third period, the shapely fullback Jank went to Smoleňák for a few words. But the referees did not allow the discussion.
“I tried to play simple. I’m upset that I was sent off twice, that’s my fault,” Smoleňák commented on his entry into the match. But he calmed down from the second half and devoted himself more to attacking. He also had chances, a minute before the end he could even decide in the power play at 3:3, but he did not beat Kiviah from close range. “If I was smarter…” he continued after the match.
At the same time, the Knights had a well-played duel in the 8th round. Halfway through the game, they were a significantly better team on the ice and took a 2-0 lead. “Kiviaho kept us in the game. We started playing only after the opponent’s second goal,” Hradec Hradec coach Tomáš Martinec admitted.
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Kladno – Hradec Králové 2:1 (A. Novotný) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
The visiting turnover was started by his youngest charge. Fifteen-year-old debutant Adam Novotný beat Bow in the 27th minute. He thus became the youngest scorer in the history of the extra league. “It sounds beautiful, it doesn’t just happen to someone. An incredible experience for a lifetime,” the scorer gushed after the match.
“Only fifteen, huh? I’m glad he got the space. I guess I made room for him,” joked Smoleňák during an interview with journalists about Novotný. Even because of his hit, in the end the Knights and Hradec only took a point. Their first at home. But it was enough for Kladno to detach itself from the bottom of the table, where Plzeň roared.
“I feel good about how we played. But I regret the conclusion. I think we deserved a point more,” said Smoleňák on his first appearance for the Knights. The next match awaits him in two days, when Kladno heads to Mladá Boleslav.
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Kladno – Hradec Králové, battleVideo: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
