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In a pulsating Game 4 of the Tipsport Liga playoff final, HC Slovák Bratislava edged past HK Nitra 4-3 in a shootout to take a commanding 3-1 series lead. The victory, secured on April 24, 2026, at Slovák’s home ice, puts the Bratislava side just one win away from capturing the championship.
The game unfolded as a tense back-and-forth affair, with Nitra holding leads three times before Slovák finally prevailed. After a scoreless first period, Slovák struck first in the second when Samuel Takáč found the net assisted by Jaroslav Acolatse at the 27-minute mark. Nitra responded swiftly, with Jakub Lacka scoring shorthanded at 36 minutes and Joshua Lawrence adding a power-play goal at 46 minutes to make it 2-1.
Slovák answered through Turner Elson, who beat Nitra’s goaltender at 44 minutes with assists from Marek Dmowski and Vladimír Bačík, knotting the score at 2-2. The momentum shifted again when Róbert Varga gave Nitra a 3-2 lead at 57 minutes, capitalizing on a power-play opportunity with assists from Takáč and Tomáš Královič. However, Slovák refused to yield, as Varga himself tied the game at 3-3 just moments later, also on the power play, sending the contest into overtime.
Despite sustained pressure from both sides during the extra frame, neither team could break the deadlock, forcing the game to be decided by a shootout. In the decisive round, Tomáš Královič converted Slovák’s eighth attempt to clinch the win, while Joshua Lawrence’s corresponding effort for Nitra was stopped, sealing the victory for the home side.
The shootout sequence saw Slovák’s Matej Paolovič, Liam Pecararo and Samuel Takáč all fail to score, while Nitra’s Joshua Lawrence, Matej Paolovič, and Josh Passolt were similarly unsuccessful. Královič’s successful attempt in the eighth round proved to be the difference, highlighting the high stakes and pressure inherent in postseason hockey.
With the win, Slovák now leads the best-of-seven series 3-1 and requires just one more victory to secure the Tipsport Liga title. The team can clinch the championship in Game 5, scheduled for April 26, 2026, in Nitra, where they will look to close out the series on the road.
The atmosphere at Slovák’s home arena was electric, with an announced attendance of 10,055 fans filling the building to capacity. The sellout crowd witnessed a game that featured end-to-end action, multiple lead changes, and the ultimate test of nerve in the shootout.
Looking ahead, Slovák will aim to capitalize on their momentum and close out the series in Nitra. For Nitra, the situation is dire—they must win their next two games to force a decisive Game 7, facing elimination with their backs against the wall in what has been described as a “do-or-die” scenario.
As the series shifts to Nitra for Game 5, both teams will prepare for what could be a title-clinching encounter. Slovák will seek to finish the job, while Nitra will look to extend their season and keep their championship hopes alive.
For continued updates on the Tipsport Liga playoff final and all the latest hockey action, stay tuned to trusted sports sources.
