Five Czech Extraliga games are scheduled for Friday, with HC Škoda Plzeň hosting HC Sparta Praha among the fixtures. Plzeň have won their last four games, including Champions Hockey League matches, scoring an average of four goals per game. Sparta beat Vítkovice 3-0 on Sunday but have been inconsistent; they have won their last three meetings with Plzeň. The teams are fifth and eighth in the standings, respectively.
League leaders HC Oceláři Třinec host BK Mladá Boleslav, who ended a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over Litvínov. Třinec will be without Libor Hudáček and Daniel Kurovský, who are serving disciplinary suspensions. HC Vítkovice Ridera face Motor České Budějovice, while HC Olomouc host HC Energie Karlovy Vary. Olomouc have lost five in a row and need a better result after a 9-0 home defeat to Třinec; Karlovy Vary are fourth.
Rytíři Kladno host HC Kometa Brno in a meeting between coaches Radim Rulík and Libor Zábranský. Kometa could have new signing Tomáš Vondráček available after his move from Pardubice.