Prague, Czech Republic – In a thrilling conclusion to their quarterfinal series, Sparta Prague overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat Plzeň 1-0 in Game 7 on Saturday, March 30, 2026, securing a spot in the Czech Extraliga semifinals. The victory, punctuated by a goal from captain Filip Chlapík and a stellar performance from goaltender Josef Kořenář, marks a significant milestone for Sparta, breaking a long-standing losing streak in decisive seventh games.
The game, played in Plzeň, was a tense affair, with Sparta capitalizing on a 5-on-3 power play in the second period. Chlapík, capitalizing on a feed from Špaček, found the back of the net, providing the lone goal of the contest. But the story of the night was undoubtedly Kořenář, who stopped all 27 shots he faced, frustrating Plzeň’s offensive efforts.
“From being down 3-1, we knew we had to play differently,” Kořenář said after the game. “I consider that was clear – everyone did what they were supposed to do. We blocked shots, played as a team, and that showed in the results. Today was no different; we blocked a lot of shots and put in a team effort.”
Kořenář acknowledged the crucial role his teammates played in his strong performance. “It definitely wasn’t easy, but it helps a lot when shots are blocked and there’s traffic in front of the net. You don’t always see the puck. When the guys block those shots, it’s a big plus for us. And what got through, I tried to stop.”
The game wasn’t without its anxious moments for Sparta. Plzeň pressed hard for an equalizer, particularly after falling behind, but Kořenář remained steadfast. “I was just thinking that we didn’t want to be punished,” Kořenář explained. “It doesn’t always function out to extend the lead, so we really appreciate that we were able to hold on to the 1-0 lead.”
Looking ahead, Sparta will face Pardubice in the semifinals. Kořenář anticipates a challenging series. “It will definitely be completely different styles of hockey. It will be tough; we have a lot of games in our legs compared to them, but if we play at least as well as we have in the last three or four games, it could be good. We’ll fight for it just like we have been.”
The goaltending situation during the series saw Kořenář and Jakub Kovář sharing duties. Kořenář spoke about their collaboration. “After my two losses, I was taken out of the lineup, which was logical. Then I came back, and I’m glad we didn’t have to rotate again and we finished with a win. Now we deserve a little rest. But in a few days, there’s another game.”
Kořenář admitted the team initially didn’t dwell on the historical significance of breaking Sparta’s losing streak in Game 7s. “Maybe we didn’t even know how to properly celebrate afterward, but it was a great feeling. The fatigue is definitely there, we need to rest. The celebrations will probably be in a few weeks.”
Plzeň often started games strongly throughout the series, a pattern Kořenář recognized. “That was the case in several games. They started actively, but we knew that if we survived the first ten minutes, we would accept the initiative. It would turn around at the end. But after going down 1-3, we changed our approach to the games, and you could see that even on television.”
Kořenář emphasized the importance of increased responsibility and teamwork as key factors in Sparta’s turnaround. “Yes, we talked about greater responsibility and working for the team, not for individuals. I think everyone gave their maximum, and today it paid off for us.”
When asked if he felt the pressure of it being a decisive Game 7, Kořenář responded, “Honestly, not really. I tried to treat it like any other game. We were in a similar situation this year, so we knew what to expect. It’s important not to dwell on it.” He added, “A person then doesn’t think about unnecessary things and automatically does what they have to do.”
There’s a common sentiment in sports that playing with “a knife to the throat” can be advantageous, and Kořenář acknowledged some truth to that. “No, we didn’t want to create that situation intentionally, but there’s something to it. A person then doesn’t think about unnecessary things and does automatically what they have to do. That helped us in this series.”
Kořenář expressed satisfaction that Sparta had finally overcome its reputation for failing to close out seventh games. “I honestly didn’t even know that, I read it somewhere today. That’s more for the journalists, I don’t worry about that too much. But it’s nice, hopefully it will be the opposite now.”
Sparta Prague will now turn its attention to the semifinal matchup against Pardubice. The series promises to be a compelling clash between two of the Czech Extraliga’s top teams. Fans can follow updates and schedules on the official league website, https://www.telh.cz/.
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