Kosice are off to a slow start in the Slovak Liga and started slowly against Skelleftea in the Round of 32, too. However, a comeback victory has raised hopes about advancing – and turning around their season in general.

by Tomas Schugerl

KOSICE – The fans who entered Steel Arena on Tuesday night were probably not confident about their team's chances of advancing against one of the most powerful clubs in European hockey – Skelleftea AIK – especially in light of the home team's poor start to the domestic Slovak Liga. After the first period, they had even less reason for optimism. Skelleftea had out-shot HC Kosice 19–2, and the score only remained 1–0 thanks to the great play of goaltender Marcel Melichercik – a surprise starter after being out of the lineup with an injury. 

“After that, we said in dressing room that it can't continue like this,” forward Adam Lapsansky, the eventual hero, said of the mood in the first intermission. “Skelleftea are a great team, but we just couldn't allow them to dominate us as they were. After the start of the second period the game changed, we were fighting for each puck and manufactured a win. We are so happy now after the win.” 

Patrick Zackrisson scored a power-play goal to put Skelleftea up 2–0 early in the second, but Marek Bartanus got that one back quickly on a Kosice power play. Then he drew the game even with 9:25 to play in the third period.

By then the rink had tilted the opposite way, with Kosice dominating the third period shot count, 11–3. Skelleftea went back into the lead, but Richard Lelkes drew Kosice even again with 3:46 on the clock, following a long video review.

“I knew that it was a good goal,” Lelkes confidently described. “It happened because the opposing player was holding me and didn't allow me to play the puck. So I lied on the ice, because he was holding me for a long time. I had the puck in front of me and at that moment I was sure that I would force it into the net.”

The fans in the arena were now going wild, but the home team wasn't finished. Less than a minute after Lelke's equalizer, Lapsansky skated to the attacking zone and surprised goalie Erik Hanses with a fast shot between his pads. 

“I said to myself that I wouldn't complicate it as I did before. I shot from the space behind the defender and, luckily, it went into the net,” the young forward described, contrasting the winning goal with a situation earlier in the game where he had a chance to score and failed.  

Kosice hasn't gotten off to a good start in the domestic Slovak Liga, where the team has just two points after five games. However, the way they rebounded from adversity early in this game gives reason for optimism – not only in the domestic league, but maybe also for advancing to the CHL's Round of 16.  

“I don't think that we have a crisis,” Bartanus said afterward, downplaying suggestions of any problems. “We are not a music group, it isn't possible to win all the time. We are a great group of people in team, and this win will bring more energy for us also in the Slovak league. This game looked the way it should have. We should play and people should cheer us on. I thank the fans – they  were great.”