HC Vítkovice Ridera ended a run of six October defeats with a 3-2 shootout win over Bílí Tygři Liberec. Šimon Stránský, back in the lineup after nearly three weeks out with a hand injury, scored the decisive goal in the sixth round of the shootout.
Liberec led 2-0 after three rounds, but Vítkovice’s final three shooters all scored, while goalkeeper Dominik Hrachovina helped complete the comeback. Stránský had missed his first attempt, but said he was happy to take another when his coach selected him. He called the two points “golden” for a team that could not afford to be choosy.
Jan Bernovský levelled the game at 1-1 midway through, and Jindřich Abdul later put Vítkovice ahead. Liberec pulled its goaltender and Radim Šimek scored his first goal of the season to force overtime and a shootout.
The win was Vítkovice’s ninth straight at home against Liberec. The visitors took their first point in Ostrava since January 2022.