HC Dynamo Pardubice ended HC Oceláři Třinec’s nine-game winning streak with a dramatic overtime victory, after the visitors had recovered from an early 2-0 deficit and moved ahead 4-3. More than 10,000 fans watched the teams trade nine goals in a game that was decided in overtime by Jan Mandát, three minutes into the extra period.
Pardubice’s Peter Čerešňák and Mandát helped spark the late finish. Mandát said stopping Třinec’s run had been extra motivation, while Čerešňák described the contest as close and said a draw would have been fair. The teams had been level after Třinec’s comeback, with the visitors coming within 16 seconds of extending their streak.
Třinec assistant coach Jiří Raszka said his side struggled in the opening 10 minutes but improved its movement and forecheck afterwards. Defender Marian Adámek lamented unnecessary third-period penalties and said his team had been close to victory. Mandát scored the winner on a one-on-one break, saying he saw space to make a turn and aimed simply to hit the net.