Motor České Budějovice lost at home for the first time this season, falling 3-2 to Rytíři Kladno in the 12th round. The hosts quickly levelled after Griffin Mendel put Kladno ahead, with Josef Koláček scoring on a power play. But Niko Ojamäki struck twice with the visitors on the power play to give them a two-goal lead.
Motor pulled one back with less than two and a half minutes remaining, but could not find an equaliser during a subsequent power play. Defenceman Jan Štencel said his team had worked hard for goals and credited Kladno’s goalkeeper for stopping their chances. “If we scored on every power play, we’d be an all-star team,” he said, adding that Motor needed to score more at five-on-five.
Štencel said the defeat was disappointing after Motor’s away win in Vítkovice, but added that one loss would not define the season. The team would put it behind them and prepare for a difficult trip to Třinec, he said.