HC Škoda Plzeň beat HC Vítkovice Ridera in a shootout after a ten-goal game, extending its run of wins over the Ostrava team to seven. Vítkovice came back repeatedly and erased a two-goal deficit in the third period to force overtime, but neither side scored in the first five rounds of the shootout. Matyáš Filip settled it for Plzeň in the sixth round.
Vítkovice defender Jakub Zbořil said Plzeň had punished the visitors’ mistakes and scored on the power play. He also pointed to the comeback as something the team could build on. “We came into it confidently and wanted to play,” he said. “We’re taking one point away, and I think we have something to build on.” Zbořil’s own shootout attempt was unsuccessful; he joked that his glove was so wet he nearly dropped his stick.
Coach Yorick Treille praised Vítkovice’s play at even strength but said too many penalties had proved costly. Plzeň made the visitors pay on the power play, which Treille said decided the result.