Nitra – Stavanger 2:1 (end) | Mlada Boleslav – Yunost 3:2 (end) | Munich – Fribourg 3:1 (end)
Lørenskog – Liberec 1:2 (end) | Ingolstadt – Lukko 1:6 (end) | Rouen – Davos 2:3 (after OT)
Zug – Esbjerg 3:2 (2:0 after SO) | Bern – Linz 5:0 (end)
final
HK Nitra
2:1 (1:0, 1:1, 0:0)
Stavanger Oilers
Tuesday 06.09.2016, 18:00 • Champions League • Group J
     
    The score didn't change in the third period, so Nitra takes all three points and advances to the Round of 32 from the first place in the group. (20:31:56)
     
    Game over.
     
    59:51
    Standing ovation for Nitra. Fans are already celebrating.
     
    59:26
    Nitra controls the puck in the offensive zone.
     
    58:56
    Pupak's one-timer went wide.
     
    58:43
    Maybe all Stavanger's chances are over. Tim Kunes gets two minutes for high-sticking. Holm is back in his net.
     
    58:23
    Kissel hits the post! Stavanger was so close.
     
    58:09
    Holm is on the bench! Stavanger has an empty net.
     
    58:02
    Kissel missed the shot, but it surprisingly helped his teammates in front of the net, who had a chance to tip the puck in. But everything ended only with a huge scramble.
     
    57:56
    Holm is looking on the bench, probably wants to skate there so his team can play with four skaters.
     
    57:13
    Stavanger doesn't have much time to tie the game, but still plays quite slowly and waits for the mistakes on the other side of ice.
     
    56:21
    Soberg felt down in front of Valent, but referees stay calm. Still no penalties in the third period.
     
    55:50
    Kutalek skated along the left boarding in front of Holm, but in the final moment one of the Stavanger's d-men blocked him the way in front of the net.
     
    54:48
    Now Medhus with a similar chance like Forsberg. But Medhus didn't even hit the puck in front of Valent.
     
    53:11
    Forsberg waiten in front od Valent and tried it with backhand rebound. Valent saved it with his left pad.
     
    52:50
    And Nitra continues with good defending. Stavanger has minimum chances even to shot. Norwegian team had only 3 shots in the third period.
     
    51:32
    Stavanger with couple of shots. But none of them caused Nitra's defence any troubles.
     
    50:26
    Nitra made it to the zone, but referees stopped this attemp with a whistle – offside.
     
    49:50
    Soares waited for a proper possiting at the top of the circles. But despite screening in front of him, Valent found the puck in the scramble in front of him.
     
    49:24
    Stavanger in offensive zone. But Nitra is defending quite well.
     
    49:17
    Icing Nitra.
     
    48:10
    Nothing important in last couple of minutes. stavanger controls the puck and waits for Nitra's mistake.
     
    46:56
    It looks like that the game is getting more and more tied.
     
    45:56
    Unbelievable save by Holm who stopped the puck after Laliberte's rebound in the very last moment.
     
    45:36
    Holm saves Pupak's slap shot from the neutral zone without any problems.
     
    44:25
    Stavanger has still the puck and tries to find the way in front of Valent. But this plan failed as Humphries sent the puck on icing.
     
    43:10
    Now Nitra in a good possition. But Slovak's one-timer from the circles only hits Holm's chest.
     
    42:40
    Nitra is playing mainly in defence, Stavanger has a pressure, but can't find a proper possition.
     
    41:23
    Stavanger had another chance to score, but the attemp was stopped with and offside.
     
    40:28
    Faceoff in front od Valent after Dahl's shots.
     
    40:01
    Start of 3rd period.
     
    Next period begins at 19:50.
     
    Stats of the second period
    Shots: 8 – 10
    PIM: 6 – 4
     
    Nitra has still one goal leading, but the score has changed. After meny penalties in the beginning of the period, Josh Soares tied the game with a nice backhander. But Nitra scored its second goal thanks to Tibor Kutalek.
     
    40:00
    2nd period finished.
     
    39:45
    Quite calm game. Everyone waits for the whistle.
     
    39:00
    Last minute of the second period.
     
    38:27
    Nitra's attack stopped with an offside.
     
    37:26
    Couple of guys were screening in front of Valent, who saw almost nothing, so the shot from the blue line made him some serious troubles.
     
    36:15
    Kristof tried to surprise Holm with a fast attemp from behind the net, but Stavanger's goalie stopped the puck next to his left post.
     
    35:29
    Nitra in full strength.
     
    35:15
    Finally now Oilers created some work to Valent. But Nitra's goalie stays solid.
     
    34:45
    Stavanger is harmless during this PP, didn't even make to to the zone.
     
    33:35
    Solberg had some troubles with standing up on the ice after hard hit, but now he looks quite okay.
     
    33:29
    Another penalty for too many players on ice. This time for Nitra, served by Chalupa.
     
    33:27
    Important save by Valent, who stopped dangerous Kissel's backand deke.
     
    32:48
    The game is quite up and down last couple of minutes.
     
    31:50
    Stavanger still in front of Valent, but nothing serious is coming.
     
    30:59
    Medhus in front of Valent, but his shot on the second post hits only Valent's shoulder.
     
    30:21
    Bene's one-timer went wide.
     
    29:45
    Referees interrupted the game after confusing scramble in the corner.
    28:45 KUTALEK - 2:1
     
    28:45
    Goal for Nitra!
    Marek Slovak passed the puck on TIBOR KUTALEK, who was in full speed and overskated two Stavanger's d-men and found a small hole in Holm's equipment. Assist: Marek Slovak.
     
    27:49
    Ruckay on ice – Nitra in full strength.
     
    27:22
    Dennis Sveum hits the right post during the PP!
     
    26:37
    Stavanger's chances stopped with an offside.
     
    25:49
    Maybe we won't see 5 on 5 game in this period at all. Ruckay gets another penalty – two minute for holding an opponent.
     
    25:25
    Nitra fans are amazing. Supporting their team all the time.
     
    24:15
    Game continues with Nitra's PP.
    23:51 SOARES - 1:1
     
    23:51
    Goal for Stavanger!
    During 4-4 game JOSH SOARES got the puck from Salsten in the middle of circles, skated little bit to the circle and sent the puck with a perfect backhander right between Valent's pads. Assist: Eirik Salsten.
     
    23:14
    But the pressure ends with van Guilder penalty – two minutes tripping.
     
    23:10
    Stavanger already in PP and moreover with a pressure.
     
    21:58
    And another penalty. The game will be 4-on-4. Nitra played with six skaters. Macik will serve two minutes penalty.
     
    21:48
    Except maybe ten seconds Nitra was in front of Holm all the time. But didn't create any serious shots.
     
    21:09
    Nitra in huge pressure. Holm has so much work right now.
     
    20:34
    Spencer Humphries didn't start the priod in a good shape. To minutes penalty – slashing. PP Nitra.
     
    20:01
    Start of 2nd period.
     
    Next period begins around 18:52.
     
    Stats of the first period
    Shots: 10 – 5
    PIM: 2 – 6
     
    It was quite tied game in the first period, but Nitra was honestly little bit better, especially in the start and end of the period and deserves one-goal leading. The only scorer in the first-period is Lukas Paukovcek.
     
    20:00
    1st period finished.
     
    19:34
    Oilers are playing mostly in its defence zone. Valent has had almost no job during the PK.
     
    19:00
    Last minute of the first period.
     
    18:40
    Nice Oilers' combination end on Mezei's stick. Slovak defence sends the puck back to Holm.
     
    18:06
    And now PP for Stavanger. Macik (NIT) gets two minutes for slashing.
     
    17:58
    Stavanger in full strength.
     
    17:50
    Icing Nitra. Konig didn't touch the puck in neutral zone.
     
    16:56
    Nitra tries to surprise Holm from the blue line. But Holm stays solid.
     
    15:58
    Another penalty for stavanger, van Guilder gets two minutes for slashing.
     
    15:40
    Kissel's backhander caught by Valent.
     
    15:38
    Paukovcek with a nice try. But his blaster made no problems to Holm.
     
    14:36
    But home team has been doing well so far in the PK. Nitra has had no shots on the net so far.
     
    13:59
    Stavanger gets two minutes penalty because of too many players on ice.
     
    12:45
    Valent passed the puck on Rais, who was way too quick and caused an icing.
    11:33 PAUKOVCEK - 1:0
     
    11:33
    Goal for Nitra!
    And the home gets the leading. LUKAS PAUKOVCEK got the puck after shots by Stefanka and Konig and succeeded with his second rebound. Assists: Juraj Stefanka, Peter Konig.
     
    11:13
    Ordzovensky (NIT) was heading to the penalty. Two minutes for high-sticking. But referees canceled his penalty.
     
    10:51
    Laliberte tried it with a slap shot, but Holm was ready.
     
    10:10
    After the starting pressure by Nitra, the game is more tied now. Chances on both sides.
     
    08:49
    Now Forsberg in a good position, alone in front of Valent. But he lost the puck right in front of Nitra's goalie.
     
    08:01
    Soares was way too fast on the blue line. Offside Stavanger.
     
    07:38
    Another angle shot, but this time from the right side. Holm stays solid.
     
    07:12
    Bene had a good chance from the left, but his backhander hits only Holm's pads.
     
    06:49
    But nothing has happened. Sveum is on the ice. Nitra didn't send even a single shot on Holm during the PP.
     
    06:30
    Finally now Nitra in front of Holm.
     
    06:02
    Stavanger defendes well. Nitra is waiting behind Valent's net.
     
    05:35
    Still without any serious PP chances.
     
    04:49
    First PP in this game. Sveum (STA) gets two minute penalty for interference.
     
    03:59
    Slovak had a good position after Blackwater's pass, but his shot ended in Holm's equipment.
     
    03:25
    Stavanger with a combination in its defensive zone waiting for some space in neutral zone.
     
    02:08
    Nitra is definitely more active in the beginning, but Stavanger also had couple of chances.
     
    01:11
    Konig with a blaster from the blue line. Holm tried to save it with his glove, but didn't catch the puck which flew high over his glove.
     
    00:25
    But now it was quite dangerous attemp by Laliberte. His shot ended blocked in the corner.
     
    00:12
    Holm with his first save. But he just covered the puck on the ice.
     
    00:01
    Game started.
     
    Both teams are on ice. The game will start soon.
     
    Starting lineups:

    HK Nitra: Valent (Foltan) – Milam, Ordzovensky, Rais, Mezei, Versteeg, Konig – Blackwater, Lilaberte, Slovak – Kristof, Ruckay, Kutalek – Macik, Stefanka, Paukovcek – Bajtek, Pupak, Piacka – Bene, Chalupa
    Head Coach: Andrej Kmec

    Stavanger Oilers: Holm (Smith) – Humphries, Sveum, Mostue, Solberg, Macaulay, Kunes, Bjornevoll, Rokseth – Dahl-Andersen, van Guilder, Kissel – Salsten, Soares, Soberg – Hoff, Forsberg, Lorentzen – Henriksen, Medhus, Falk-Larssen
    Head Coach: Paal Gulbrandsen

    Referees: Baluska, Hradil – Sefcik, Vyleta.
     
    After their two wins over Pilsen, a point for Nitra will see them qualify for the next round tonight – marking a first for the team. Their opponents from Stavanger sit tied with Pilsen on three points, and will travel to the Czech side in the group's final game – so any points tonight will give them an advantage in that game.

    "I hope that our fans will help us out again. Stavanger is a very good team but I believe that we can win and secure the knockout stage," said Nitra manager Miroslav Kovacik.
     
    Welcome. Game starts at 18:00.
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    Commentary by

    Karolína Antošová

    CZ@KarolAntosova

    Goals & lineups Match log
    Goals and assists: 12. Paukovcek (Stefanka, Konig), 29. Kutalek (Slovak) – 24. Soares (Salsten)

    HK Nitra: Valent (Foltan) – Milam, Ordzovensky, Rais, Mezei, Versteeg, Konig – Blackwater, Lilaberte, Slovak – Kristof, Ruckay, Kutalek – Macik, Stefanka, Paukovcek – Bajtek, Pupak, Piacka – Bene, Chalupa
    Head Coach: Andrej Kmec
    Stavanger Oilers: Holm (Smith) – Humphries, Sveum, Mostue, Solberg, Macaulay, Kunes, Bjornevoll, Rokseth – Dahl-Andersen, van Guilder, Kissel – Salsten, Soares, Soberg – Hoff, Forsberg, Lorentzen – Henriksen, Medhus, Falk-Larssen
    Head Coach: Paal Gulbrandsen
    Referees: Baluska, Hradil – Sefcik, Vyleta