Five Czech Extraliga games are scheduled for Friday night, with Plzeň hosting Sparta in one of the evening’s main attractions. Plzeň have won their last four games, scoring an average of four goals, while Sparta beat Vítkovice 3-0 in their most recent outing. Sparta have won the teams’ last three meetings and need points amid a tight middle of the standings.
League leaders Třinec welcome Mladá Boleslav after their run of victories ended in an overtime loss to Pardubice. Libor Hudáček and Daniel Kurovský will miss the game through disciplinary suspensions. Mladá Boleslav ended a six-game losing streak by beating Litvínov 2-1.
Olomouc, who have lost five in a row, host Karlovy Vary. The hosts have taken only two points at home, while Karlovy Vary are described as one of the season’s leading teams. Elsewhere, Vítkovice face České Budějovice, and Kladno meet Kometa Brno. Kladno’s Radim Rulík and Kometa’s Libor Zábranský are both former national-team coaches; Kometa may have new signing Tomáš Vondráček available.