Litoměřice, Czech Republic – The Maxa Liga playoffs are delivering drama, with Kolín and Jihlava already securing their semifinal berths. Still, the story isn’t just about ascendant teams. it’s similarly about those facing elimination. Frýdek-Místek and Třebíč have already seen their seasons end, and now Vsetín and defending champion Slavia Praha find themselves on the brink of joining them.
Kolín’s historic season continues to unfold, following a surprising second-place finish in the regular season with a dominant performance in the quarterfinals. They swept Třebíč 3-0, capped off by a series-clinching goal from captain Petr Kolmann. Kolmann’s decisive tally came in the shootout, securing Kolín’s place in the semifinals. Their next opponent will be determined on Friday. Třebíč, meanwhile, has fallen short in the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year and will begin playing at the newly renovated KHNP Arena next season.
SK Horácká Slavia Třebíč – SC Marimex Kolín 1:2 (SO) (1:1, 0:0, 0:0 – 0:0)
Goals and Assists: 9′ Štebih (Michálek) – 16′ Veselý (P. Moravec, Gardoň), shootout winner Kolmann. Referees: Horák, Šico – Jindra, Rakušan. Penalties: 5:8. Power Play: 1:0. Shots on Goal: 29:48. Attendance: 815. Series Score: 0-3.
In a stunning turn of events, HC Stadion Litoměřice has taken a commanding 2-1 lead over VHK ROBE Vsetín. Vsetín, a perennial contender in the Maxa Liga, entered the playoffs as the fourth seed but now finds itself one loss away from elimination against a determined Litoměřice squad. Despite missing key players like Kuťák, Klepiš, and Eberle, Vsetín has seen young players step up, including Vasyl Špilka, who contributed a goal and an assist in Thursday’s game. Kryštof Lang led the way for Litoměřice with two goals, and 18-year-ancient Filip Novák also found the back of the net.
HC Stadion Litoměřice – VHK ROBE Vsetín 4:1 (3:0, 0:0, 1:1)
Goals and Assists: 4′ Lang (Špilka), 10′ F. Novák (Koštoval), 20′ Špilka (Lang, Koštoval), 45′ Lang (Ton) – 42′ Jandus (Ďurkáč, M. Novák). Referees: Wagner, Petružálek – Maštalíř, Roischel. Penalties: 5:5, Jelínek (Litoměřice) and Šmerha (Vsetín) 5-minute majors. Shots on Goal: 34:21. Attendance: 1,446. Series Score: 2-1.
The pattern of regular-season dominance followed by playoff disappointment continues to haunt teams in the Maxa Liga. Litoměřice, Třebíč, Poruba, and Vsetín all won their respective regular-season divisions in the past four years, only to be eliminated relatively quickly in the subsequent playoffs. Slavia Praha, the defending champion and winner of the regular season, is now facing a similar fate. In a crucial Game 3, they lost to RI Okna Berani Zlín in overtime, with Robert Říčka scoring the winning goal. Zlín’s goaltender, Daniel Huf, was instrumental in the victory, stopping 31 shots.
RI Okna Berani Zlín – HC Slavia Praha 2:1 (OT) (0:0, 1:1, 0:0 – 1:0)
Goals and Assists: 25′ Jarůšek (Holík, Říčka), 67′ Říčka (Holík, Paukku) – 29′ Gricius (Šťovíček). Referees: Mrkva, Turhobr – Dědek, Král’. Penalties: 4:4. Power Play: 1:1. Shots on Goal: 23:32. Attendance: 3,651. Series Score: 2-1.
Frýdek-Místek’s season came to an end with a swift defeat at the hands of Jihlava. Despite a strong home record during the regular season, they were unable to withstand Jihlava’s attack in the playoffs.
The Maxa Liga playoffs are proving to be unpredictable, with upsets and compelling storylines emerging. Litoměřice holds a crucial advantage over Vsetín, while Zlín has seized control of their series against Slavia Praha. The next games will be pivotal as teams battle for a chance to reach the semifinals.
What’s Next: Vsetín will appear to stave off elimination when they host Litoměřice in Game 4 on Friday. Slavia Praha will attempt to even their series against Zlín on the road, also on Friday.
What are your thoughts on these playoff matchups? Share your predictions in the comments below!
