Bílí Tygři Liberec continued their recovery with a 5-0 home win over HC Energie Karlovy Vary, their third consecutive victory in the Tipsport Extraliga. Liberec made a decisive start, scoring four times in the opening period. Jakub Rychlovský struck twice in that flurry, while the hosts went on to keep a clean sheet.
Karlovy Vary posed their greatest threat in the middle period, but Liberec’s defence held firm. The hosts added a fifth goal in the final period and defended a late penalty kill, with Layton Ahac, Jaroslav Vlach and Jaromír Pytlík among those blocking shots. Rychlovský said the team’s effort in the closing minute showed its character.
The two-goal performance was Rychlovský’s first multi-goal game since returning to the Czech top flight. He praised goaltender Petr Kváča and said Liberec had improved its penalty killing and work in defensive-zone battles after a difficult start to the season. The win followed Tuesday’s Champions League victory over Swedish side Frölunda.