HC Oceláři Třinec beat HC Energie Karlovy Vary in a tightly contested game that began at 10:30 on Sunday. The teams traded goals in the 10th minute: Matěj Kubiesa put the hosts ahead, and David Šťastný equalised 16 seconds later. After that, Třinec eventually came out on top in a patient, tactical contest.
Třinec forward Andrej Nestrašil said he liked the unusual start time and would support making morning face-offs a regular feature in the Czech Extraliga. He said the team was used to being at the rink early and that he felt good on the ice. He also welcomed the chance to spend more of Sunday with his family.
Nestrašil described the game as having “playoff qualities” and said Třinec may have created more chances, while the opposing goaltender kept Karlovy Vary in the game. He said his team had learned from its previous loss to České Budějovice, staying more responsible defensively and patient until it could pull away. After the game, he planned to buy a kite and fly it with his children.