Brno’s HC Kometa finds itself on the brink of elimination in its quarterfinal series against Dynamo Pardubice, trailing 0-3 after a 2-4 loss at home on Sunday. Despite a spirited effort and outshooting Pardubice 38-29, Kometa’s depleted roster and a strong performance from Dynamo have left them facing a daunting uphill battle.
The defending champions, still reeling from a significant injury list, struggled to contain Pardubice’s offensive pressure. While Kometa showed flashes of their championship form, Dynamo consistently executed their game plan, capitalizing on opportunities and frustrating the home team. The series has quickly turned into a test of endurance and resilience for Kometa, who are playing with a significantly reduced lineup.
Forward Adam Zbořil, who scored Kometa’s lone goal in the third period, acknowledged the team’s effort but emphasized the need for improvement. “We gave less goals than they did, that’s pretty much it,” Zbořil said after the game. “We were confident, we played honest hockey, no one slacked off. I’m proud of all the guys for what they showed on the ice. We need to bring that to tomorrow’s game.”
Kometa’s injury situation continues to worsen, with Kristián Pospíšil and Marek Ďaloga joining the list of unavailable players. Despite the mounting absences, Zbořil stressed the importance of focusing on what they can control. “We can’t make excuses. We have the players we have. Everyone has to provide their best. You can’t do anything about injuries, we just have a clear task ahead of us. Tomorrow we’re playing for our lives and we have to go out there with 100% concentration, confidence, shoot one puck after another, and believe,” he stated.
Zbořil has been a consistent offensive threat against Pardubice this season, scoring his fourth goal against them in the current campaign and his second of the playoffs. When asked about his success against Dynamo, he admitted, “If I knew, I’d tell you. I just try to hit the spot where the goalie isn’t. Today it was lucky, deflected… I guess you need to get in front of the net, create pressure, and be a nuisance.”
A notable change for Pardubice was the start of Roman Will in net, replacing Malcolm Subban. Zbořil admitted he didn’t anticipate the switch. “I personally didn’t expect it. Maybe the coaches, I don’t recognize.” He added, “It doesn’t make a difference. If you want to win, you have to beat any goalie.” Kometa’s video coach provides specific scouting reports on each goaltender, but Zbořil noted that the situation on the ice is always different.
Despite playing with a shortened bench, Zbořil denied that fatigue was a factor. “Honestly, I don’t feel any fatigue. It’s the playoffs, we played twenty games last year, almost every other day. You can’t use fatigue as an excuse.” He believes that playing with three lines can actually assist with tempo. “For me, it always helps. It’s up to the coaches whether we play three or four lines. Today, the fourth line did their job. They won a lot of battles, often transitioned the puck into the offensive zone. Everyone has their role on the team.”
Zbořil acknowledged the need for a turnaround in the series. “As I said, we need to be tough, relentless, smart, and believe. And also avoid those bad penalties, because they have a good power play.” He highlighted the strong performance of young forward David Moravec, who earned an assist on Zbořil’s goal. “He was great. He fought hard, battled, won pucks. Everything you need in playoff hockey. He was hungry, had a great shot in the third period. He could have raised his hands and been a hero if it had gone in.”
Looking ahead, Zbořil believes that maintaining a clear head will be crucial. “I think we have a team experienced enough that nervousness… Of course, there’s always some, especially at the beginning. But during the game, you have to place it behind you, shift after shift, and give 100 percent.”
Kometa will glance to avoid elimination when they host Pardubice again on Monday. The game will be a must-win for the defending champions, who face a significant challenge in overcoming a 0-3 series deficit. The puck drops at 6:00 PM CET (12:00 PM EST).
The situation is undeniably difficult for Kometa, but Zbořil and his teammates remain determined to fight for their playoff lives. Whether they can overcome their injury woes and the strong play of Pardubice remains to be seen, but they are committed to leaving everything on the ice.
