It could be the turning point of the series, as memories of last year’s quarter-final between the same opponents were already popping up. Sparta won the first match as well, in the second Třinec put Kacetl in the goal instead of Mazanka, and then after goals from Hudáček (2×) and Voženílka won 3:2 in extra time. Later the entire series. Now the composition of the main characters was repeated, after 60 minutes it was the same as a year ago, but the equalizer pumped energy into the Spartans, which Moravčík later turned into the winning goal.
History does repeat itself, but it doesn’t always. “One learns by defeats, because without them there is no victory. There are a lot of players here who played a lot of important matches. We have leaders who add insights. This is what we need,” said Michal Kempný, himself a former Stanley Cup winner, after the game.
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Sparta – Třinec, home team Moravčík scored two goals in the second semi-finalVideo: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
And thanks to Wednesday’s turnaround, Sparta has yet to lose in this year’s playoffs. “We all believed until the end of the match that we could do it. Třinec played an excellent match. We missed these moments last year. We had optical pressure, but we didn’t push anything there. This year, we appreciate that we were able to break it in our favor and we are leading 2:0,” said Kempný.
No, the equalizing goal was indeed one of those lucky ones, but Sparta increased the pace during the third act. Třinec successfully defended himself for a long time, the match was good, many even consider him the best in this year’s playoffs.
Sparta – Třinec, 2nd match1/14
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3:13
ADJUSTMENT: HC Sparta Prague vs. HC Steelers Třinec 3:2 pp
Photo: Sport.cz
0:22
Sparta – Třinec 1:0 (17. Moravčík)
Photo: Sport.cz
0:22
Sparta – Třinec, a great chance for home team Horák was destroyed by Cienciala
Photo: Sport.cz
0:22
Sparta – Třinec, the visiting Voženílk’s goal was not recognized by the video
Photo: Sport.cz
0:24
Sparta – Třinec, a hard hit from Třinec’s Voženielk started a fight
Photo: Sport.cz
0:23
Sparta – Třinec 1:1 (26. Voženílek)
Photo: Sport.cz
0:23
Sparta – Třinec 1:2 (28. Hudáček)
Photo: Sport.cz
2:56
Sparta – Třinec, the visiting Voženílk’s goal was not recognized by the video
Photo: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.cz
0:23
Sparta – Třinec 2:2 (60. Guy)
Photo: Sport.cz
0:33
Sparta – Třinec, two guest sticks in short succession
0:19
Sparta – Třinec, Spartan Sobotka only hit the crossbar
0:22
Sparta – Třinec 3:2 pp (78. Moravčík)
Photo: Sport.cz
0:36
Sparta – Třinec, home Moravčík scored two goals in the second semi-final
Photo: Michal Kamaryt, CTK
1:08
Sparta – Třinec, a goal to make it 1:0 and the referee’s subsequent explanation to the Třinec captain
Photo: Vlastimil Vacek, Sport.cz
“For 59 minutes and 52 seconds, we played exactly what we wanted. Unfortunately, we didn’t make it to the end, it got away from us. But I will evaluate the duel positively. We didn’t even have to be here. We played the seventh game with Budějka, we could have been by the sea. We played a great match with Sparta, it’s an even series. Now we want to take advantage of the home environment and score two points,” said Třinec striker Andrej Nestrašil.
That the fact that Třinec has a seven-game quarter-final behind it, while Sparta flew to the semi-finals in four duels, would be reflected in extra time? “No! It’s all about the head. A year ago we played 22 games in the playoffs, this year it is nine. We still have somewhere to go. It’s about the mental endurance of each individual, it’s not about fatigue. We really have our heads up, we’re not packing anything. Our confidence is still high. We know what we can do,” Nestrašil blurted out.
But Třinec would need a goal awakening from its sniper Martin Růžičky, who has not scored in 13 games in a row since the end of the regular season, the last time this happened to him was during his long-ago engagement in Znojmo (08/09). None of his 28 shots on goal were caught.
Will he make it in Třinec this weekend? And will the Steelers wrap up the series again, or is their four-year extraleague reign coming to an end?
