The Maxa Liga is heading for a dramatic conclusion. With the regular season nearing its end, the final 52nd round of games this Saturday, February 28th, will effectively decide everything – from the league champion to playoff positioning and, crucially, which teams face relegation.
Vsetín and Litoměřice have already secured their place in the playoff quarterfinals. However, beyond that, the picture remains incredibly unclear. Twelve teams are still battling for crucial positioning, with the fight for the championship, a top-six playoff berth and avoiding the drop all hanging in the balance.
The Championship Race
Slavia Praha currently holds the upper hand in the race for the regular season title. A mid-week victory over Chomutov, 4-2, propelled them to the top of the standings by a single point. Their fate, however, isn’t entirely in their own hands. Slavia travels to Tábor on Saturday, while SC Marimex Kolín, their closest rivals, host a crucial game against Vsetín. Kolín needs to earn at least one more point than Slavia to claim the top spot, owing to a head-to-head advantage in the season series.
Head-to-Head Record:
Slavia Praha – Kolín 5:7
| Team | Z | V | VP | PP | P | Skóre | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | HC Slavia Praha | 51 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 155:117 | 100 |
| 2. | SC Marimex Kolín | 51 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 143:106 | 99 |
The Battle for Second Place
HC Dukla Jihlava trails Kolín by three points, but their superior head-to-head record against Kolín keeps them in contention for second place. Jihlava needs a win in Chomutov and will be relying on a slip-up from Kolín against Vsetín. Slavia could also still claim second place depending on the outcomes of both games.
Head-to-Head Record:
Kolín – Jihlava 6:6 (skóre 8:10)
| Team | Z | V | VP | PP | P | Skóre | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | SC Marimex Kolín | 51 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 143:106 | 99 |
| 3. | HC Dukla Jihlava | 51 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 158:109 | 96 |
Direct Qualification to the Quarterfinals
HC Frýdek-Místek currently sits in sixth place, three points behind Třebíč. A win in regulation time at home against Třebíč would likely secure their direct qualification to the quarterfinals. However, a complex scenario could unfold involving a three-team mini-table. If Frýdek-Místek, Třebíč, and HC Dynamo Pardubice B all finish with the same number of points, the team with the best head-to-head record within that mini-group will take first place. A one-goal win for Frýdek-Místek would result in Třebíč finishing first, while a win by two or more goals would propel Frýdek-Místek to the top. Pardubice B, facing Poruba, has a disadvantageous head-to-head record against both Třebíč and Frýdek-Místek and would need to gain two more points than Třebíč to qualify directly.
Head-to-Head Records:
Frýdek-Místek – Pardubice B 6:6 (skóre 13:12)
Pardubice B – Třebíč 6:6 (skóre 8:11)
Třebíč – Frýdek-Místek ? (currently 6:3, skóre 5:4)
Mini-Tables:
With a three-point win for Frýdek-Místek by one goal: 1. Třebíč, 2. Frýdek-Místek, 3. Pardubice B
With a win for Frýdek-Místek by two or more goals: 1. Frýdek-Místek, 2. Třebíč, 3. Pardubice B
| Team | Z | V | VP | PP | P | Skóre | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč | 51 | 19 | 5 | 9 | 18 | 121:129 | 76 |
| 7. | HC Dynamo Pardubice B | 51 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 21 | 146:134 | 75 |
| 8. | HC Frýdek-Místek | 51 | 20 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 135:133 | 73 |
Play-in Round Qualification
The battle for the final play-in round spots is equally intense. Sokolov, Tábor, and Zlín are all in danger of missing the postseason. Přerov remains in contention, but needs a regulation win against Baník Sokolov and will be hoping for unfavorable results for both Sokolov and Berani Zlín, who face Slavia and Litoměřice respectively. Sokolov and Zlín can secure their play-in berth with a three-point win, while Tábor’s fate is more complicated due to a head-to-head disadvantage against Zlín.
Head-to-Head Records:
Sokolov – Zlín 1:11
Zlín – Tábor 6:6 (skóre 7:6)
Sokolov – Tábor 6:6 (skóre 13:13, overall score -22:-14)
Mini-Tables:
1. Zlín 17, 2. Tábor 12, 3. Sokolov 7
1. Přerov 16, 2. Zlín 13, 3. Tábor 7
| Team | Z | V | VP | PP | P | Skóre | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | HC Baník Sokolov | 51 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 21 | 133:155 | 69 |
| 10. | HC Tábor | 51 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 21 | 125:139 | 68 |
| 11. | RI Okna Berani Zlín | 51 | 17 | 5 | 7 | 22 | 108:129 | 68 |
| 12. | HC ZUBR Přerov | 51 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 25 | 109:144 | 65 |
Relegation Battle
The stakes are highest for HC RT TORAX Poruba 2011 and Piráti Chomutov, who are both fighting to avoid relegation. Both teams face challenging home games: Poruba against Pardubice B and Chomutov against Dukla Jihlava. Poruba is in a more precarious position, as they have a significantly worse head-to-head record against Chomutov. They need to earn at least one more point than Chomutov to stay in the Maxa Liga.
Head-to-Head Record:
Poruba – Chomutov 0:12
| Team | Z | V | VP | PP | P | Skóre | Body | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | HC RT TORAX Poruba 2011 | 51 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 27 | 142:166 | 59 |
| 14. | Piráti Chomutov | 51 | 17 | 1 | 6 | 27 | 118:151 | 59 |
Saturday’s Schedule (February 28th)
17:00 RI Okna Berani Zlín – HC Stadion Litoměřice
17:00 HC RT TORAX Poruba 2011 – HC Dynamo Pardubice B
17:00 HC Frýdek-Místek – SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč
17:00 HC ZUBR Přerov – HC Baník Sokolov
17:00 VHK ROBE Vsetín – SC Marimex Kolín
17:00 Piráti Chomutov – HC Dukla Jihlava
17:00 HC Tábor – HC Slavia Praha
The Maxa Liga season culminates this Saturday in a series of games that will determine the fates of several teams. Stay tuned to Archysport for updates and analysis as the drama unfolds.
