Oswiecim and Banska Bystrica qualified for the semi-finals
The quarterfinals of the EUHL playoffs started last week. UHT Sabers Oswiecim, UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica, Philosophers Nitra, and Sapientia U23 were competing to qualify for the next stage.
UHT Sabers Oswiecim finished the regular season in third place and met with Sapientia U23, placed in the 6th position, in the quarterfinals. The second quarterfinals were played between UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica (4th place) and Philosophers Nitra (5th place). Let’s check how did these series go and what is the schedule for the semi-finals.
The first match of the playoffs was played between Oswiecim and Sapientia. The home team went into the lead after 58 seconds. UHT added another goal in each period and was already winning 3-0. Sapientia scored eight minutes before the end but was not able to score again and dramatized the match.
UHT Sabers Oswiecim – Sapientia U23 3-1 (1-0, 1-0, 1-1)
Goals: Piankrat, Fus, Prusak – Karda.
Goaltenders: Kaczkowski – Ambrus.
The second match in this series was not as careful as the first game. The Romanian club took a lead, but the Polish team responded with four goals. Sapientia did not give up and performed such a nice comeback while scoring five goals in a row. The home team made the score difference to one goal thanks to Kusak, but the visitors did not concede anymore and equal the series. The following third match was about to decide which team qualifies for the semi-finals.
UHT Sabers Oswiecim – Sapientia U23 5-9 (4-1, 0-5, 1-3)
Goals: Dudkiewicz (2), Piankrat, Fus, Kusak – Lazar (2), Antal H. (2), Antal L. (2), Salamon (2), Tamas-Jozsef.
Goaltenders: Kaczkowski (Gasior) – Beres.
Both teams understood the importance of this match. The Sabers started better and took the lead in the 2nd minute. Goaltenders performed some very nice saves and we had to wait for another goal for more than 40 minutes. Sapientia equalled the score but it lasted less than 180 seconds and the Polish team was winning again. The visitors added one more goal and the Romanian club was in a difficult situation. They scored a goal, but they were not able to tie the result while UHT scored an empty-net goal in the last seconds. UHT Sabers Oswiecim qualified for the semi-finals.
Sapientia U23 – UHT Sabers Oswiecim 2-4 (0-1, 0-0, 2-3)
Goals: Becze, Lazar – Sadowski, Fus, Najsarek, Piankrat.
Goaltenders: Beres – Kaczkowski.
Serie: 1-2
The first match of the other quarterfinals between UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica and Philosophers Nitra was mostly about the defensive lines of both teams. No one wanted to make a mistake while we did not see any goal in the first period. Banska Bystrica was leading 1-0, but Philosophers were able to equal the score. There was a tie only for less than four minutes when Grezdo scored a game-winning goal. The away team tried to score again but did not use its chances.
UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica – Philosophers Nitra 2-1 (0-0, 1-0, 1-1)
Goals: Novodomec, Grezdo – Varga.
Goaltenders: Gasparovic – Ordogh.
Philosophers had to win this match so the series could continue in Nitra. Despite a high activity and almost 50 shots on goal, they were not able to score. On the other hand, Banska Bystrica used three opportunities and reserved its spot in the semi-finals.
UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica – Philosophers Nitra 3-0 (1-0, 1-0, 1-0)
Goals: Grezdo, Rybar, Janacek.
Goaltenders: Gasparovic – Nemcic.
Serie: 2-0
Gladiators Trencin, the winner of the regular season, and UK Praha, the team that finished in 2nd place, reserved their spots directly in the semi-finals. This part of the playoffs is played for two winning games.
Semi-finals:
Gladiators Trencin (1) – UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica (4)
UK Praha (2) – UHT Sabers Oswiecim (3)
Schedule:
6.4. at 19:45 Gladiators Trencin – UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica
7.4. at 14:00 UK Praha – UHT Sabers Oswiecim
7.4. at 19:45 Gladiators Trencin – UMB Hockey team Banska Bystrica
8.4. at 16:00 UK Praha – UHT Sabers Oswiecim
Dates and times of eventual third games will be set after the second matches.
Authors of the photos: Facebook UHT Sabers Oswiecim, UMB Hockey Team Banska Bystrica
