A blue line shot by Slovakian defender Andrej Sekera after his team won the face goes just wide past the left bottom corner.

The puck is chipped in front of the Czech net but Ondrej Pavelec is able to cover the puck up before Michel Miklik can reach it.

Chara gets a lot of ice time in these crucial minutes, wants to lead the Slovakians to the equalizer.

A shot by Martin Hanzal from the right wing is easily stopped by Laco.

The Czechs keep the puck behind their own net and use the opportunity to reorganize. The time is running out for the Slovakians so that they will have to take higher risks while the Czechs can wait for counter attacks.

Milan Michalek receives a pass at the Slovakian blue line but his team mates need too long and without help he has to break up the attack.

Marian Hossa tries it from within the slot but his shot is blocked by a defender into the left corner of the Czech third.

A distance shot by the Slovaks almost goes through into the net.

The puck goes back and forth without much danger for the Czech net currently.

The Slovaks keep the pressure high. They have to show something very fast. Zdneo Chara's shot from the right circle is blocked to the right by goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

Tomas Zaborsky steals the puck from a defender deep inside the Czech third but the slips on the ice when he tries to take the puck with him...

Aggressive start by the Slovaks but a shot by Marian Hossa from within the slot is easily stopped by Ondrej Pavelec.

A shot by Andrej Meszaros from the blue line is almost deflected into the own net by Czech defender Ladislav Smid but the puck goes just wide!

The game has really calmed down after goal no. 4 by the Czechs. The Slovaks seem to have lost all the remaining self-confidence!

Czech forward Roman Cervenka stops the puck inside the slot but his shot then has not enoguh power behind to beat Jan Laco!

Andrej Sekera conquers the puck inside the Czech zone but his shot from within the slot towards the left bottom corner is blocked with a pad save by Ondrej Pavelec.

The Slovakians leave Czech veteran Jaromir Jagr too much space but he isn't able to get the shot on target from close to the left circle.

The Slovaks are not giving up – of course – but they are also not really lucky in their offensive actions. A back hander by Tomas Jurco is easily caught by Ondrej Pavelec.

Czech Republic's David Krejci leaves the puck for Ales Hemsky near the Slovakian blue line but the following one-timer was easily stopped by goalie Jan Laco.

Richard Panik can't stop a very long pass towards the Czech blue line intended for him – icing against Slovakia.

A very harmless Czech power play just ended and the Slovakians are back at full strength. The Slovaks even had more and better opportunities than their opponents with a man less on the ice.

Milan Bartovic with the next shorthanded opportunity for the Slovaks but his powerful shot from the left circle is not placed well and goes straight into the gloves of the goalie.

Slovakia's Tomas Zaborsky skates past a sliding defender but from the end of the left circle his shot is no danger as the angle is too sharp and Ondrej Pavelec makes an easy glove save.

Long clearance by the Slovakins, the puck goes deep into the czech third.

Some action in front of the Czech net after a while but a shot by Martin Marincin from the left wing is easily caught by Ondrej Pavelec.

A this time harmless Czech power play is over and the Slovaks are back at full strength.

A harmless blue line attempt by Tomas Kaberle is blocked by a Slovak who then fails to start a counter attack.

After the Czech power play formation found no good passing way over half a minute on the right wing, Zdeno Chara went in between to clear the puck into the Czech third.

Another shot on target by the Czechs but Michael Frolik only hits the body of Laco with a shot from the right wing.

Fast passing combination between three Czechs inside the neutral zone, the puck comes to Martin Erat who skates into the slot but can't beat Jan Laco from short distane.

Zdeno Chara skates towards the left circle and tries it with a shot from a very sharp angle, glove save by Ondrej Pavelec.

Martin Erat with a pass from the right circle back towards the blue line but the one-timer by Tomas Surovy brings no danger for the Czech net.

A one-timer from the blue line by Czech defender Marek Zidlicky is no danger for the Slovakian net.

The Czechs are back at full strength and will have 90 seconds of power play!

Milan Bartovic tries it from the right circle after the Czech defense let him too much space but his shot is deflected out of play by a defender.

Long clearance by the Czechs deep into the Slovakian defensive zone.

Andrej Sekera tries it from the blue line but his shot was not placed well and Ondrej Pavelec didn't even have to move his legs to make a pad save.

Milan Michalek almost with a shorthander but his shot throguh two defenders is not placed well enough and easily stopped by Jan Laco.

Tomas Jurco is stopped with a hard check into the legs after receiving a long pass close to the Czech blue line but no penalty call is made.

A shot from the right wing at height of the blue line is easily caught by Jan Laco.

The Slovaks fail to clear the puck out of their own zone but the following misdirected puck also doesn't lead to a chance for the Czechs.

Tomas Zaborsky receives a long pass at the Czech blue line but coming from the right wing he only finds the chest of Ondrej Pavelec.

The Slovakians started well into the match but now they have a two-goal deficit and try to give the right answer.

Horrible misdirected pass by Peter Olvecky in the own third but Roman Cervenka can't use the extra space and is stopped by a Slovakian defender on the left wing.

Czech attacker Jakub Voracek wins the puck behind the Slovakian net and tries it immidiately with a wrap-around but is stopped by Laco and his defense.

On the other side of the ice a shot by Martin Bartovic causes no trouble for Pavelec.

Czech Republic's Ales Hemsky with a shot from within the slot, easy save for Laco.

Martin Erat tries it from the left circle for the Czechs but only finds the gloves of Slovak goalie Jan Laco.

Branko Radivojevic has a lot of space on the right wing after receiving a pass inside the neutral zone but his shot just after crossing the blue line is easily caught by Ondrej Pavelec.

The Czechs are having their first series of shots aswell. A good start in the smaller Shayba Arena.

Again the Slovaks but the shot by Tomas Zaborsky from left to the net is blocked by a defender.

The Slovaks have the first shot on goal of the game but from the left circle Tomas Jurco only hits the chest of Czech goalie Ondrej Pavelec.

The teams are waiting for the opening face off. Slovakia plays in dark blue, the Czechs in white and red jerseys.

Starting lineups:

Czech Republic: Pavelec (Salák) – Židlický, Šmíd, Gudas, Rozsíval, Z. Michálek, Kaberle, Krajíček – Jágr, Plekanec (C), Červenka – Hemský, Krejčí, M. Michálek – Voráček, Hanzal, Erat – Frolík, Nedvěd, Palát – Novotný. Head Coach: Alois Hadamczik.

Slovakia: Laco (Halák) – Starosta, Chára (C), Baranka, Meszároš, Sekera, Marinčin, Jurčina, Vydarený – Marián Hossa, Handzuš, Tatar – Jurčo, Ölvecký, Záborský – Miklík, Surový, Bartovič – Pánik, Radivojevič, Marcel Hossa. Head Coach: Vladimír Vůjtek.

Referees: Peel (USA) , Vinnerborg (SWE) – Cameron (CAN), Suominen (FIN)

The group stage of the men's hockey tournament at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games was disappointing for both Czech Republic and Slovakia. While the Czechs only became 3rd in group C with 3 points after losing against Sweden (2-4) and Switzerland (0-1) with a win against Latvia (4-2) in between it was a lot worse for their neighbours who they shared a country with until 1993.

The Slovakians lost all their three group matches to finish last in group A with just one point. After a humiliating 1-7 defeat against Team USA to open the tournament, they received another setback against outsiders Slovenia (1-3) before they were able to keep the game open against hosts Russia (0-1 after shootout).

The good thing for both teams is the current tournament format as no team had to leave Sochi after the group stage and every of the 12 teams still can win the gold medal. While the top 4 teams of the three groups qualified automatically for the quarterfinals the other 8 teams have to play a quarterfinal qualification first. And this is what the Czechs and the Slovaks will do this evening!

The winner of this match will play against Team USA in the quarterfinals!

Welcome. Game starts at 12:00 ET / 18:00 CET / 21:00 MSK which is also the local time in Sochi.