Read below for information on the Round of 32 series between HK Nitra and Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava. Vitkovice won 12-0 to advance to the Round of 16.
Preview
Nitra against Vitkovice brings us an old-fashioned Czech-Slovak match-up in the Round of 32. Nitra has faced Czech opponents both this season and last in the CHL group stage, losing twice to Liberec last year and winning twice against Pilsen this year. For Vitkovice, who are located not far from the Slovakian border, they quite often face Slovak opponents in the pre-season, but this will be the first time they face them in a meaningful competition since 1992-93 – the last season of the Czechoslovakian Federal Extraliga. Both of these teams showed us in the group stage that they can play good tight-checking defensive styles and also both struggled to score goals at times, so expect this to be a low-scoring series. Also expect a large number of Nitra fans to make the 270 km trip north and invade Ostravar Arena in the first leg, and the usual rocking atmosphere back in Nitra in the return leg.
Closer look: HK Nitra
(3-0-0-1, 9 points, 9:6, 1st in Group J)
HK Nitra lost all four of their CHL games last year. They returned to the competition this season after winning their first-ever league title last season. Nitra started this year's journey in Norway, losing 2-1 in Stavanger. After their fifth-straight CHL loss, they the team led by new head coach Andrej Kmec won their three remaining games. In front of their great fans both at home and away, Nitra defeated HC Pilsen 2-1 in Nitra, then erased an early two-goal deficit and beat them again in Pilsen, 4-2. In their last home game, the Slovakian champions won 2-1 against Stavanger, which secured them first place in Group J. Up next, they face another Czech club in the Round of 32 – Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava.
Judd
Blackwater
2+3, +3
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Canadian fan favourite Judd Blackwater came to Nitra mid-season last year and was very productive in the Slovak Extraliga, especially in the playoffs. Blackwater confirmed his role of team leader in the group stage of the CHL. The 29-year-old centre earned five points in four games, meaning he figured in on more than half of his team’s goals. Backwater plays very well with fellow Canadian David Laliberte on his wing. The former Philadelphia Flyer scored two goals, both in Pilsen and both assisted by Blackwater.
Jameson
Milam
1+1, +1
Top Defenceman: American blueliner Jameson Milam didn’t play in Stavanger because he had problems with his visa. In the next three games, however, Milam was a key player. He showed his most dangerous weapon, his heavy slap shot, in the home-ice derby versus Pilsen, when he scored the winning goal on the power play. Nitra has a more defencemen with accurate shots from the point like Peter Konig and captain Branislav Mezei, but Milam is the only one to connect in the group stage.
Michal
Valent
95.24 %
Top Goaltender: Nitra played very well defensively in the group stage, allowing just six goals in four games. Michal Valent spent 240 minutes in the net with the best save percentage of all CHL goalies who played four games – the experienced Slovak faced 126 shots and made 120 saves. His goalkeeping colleagues Juraj Halo and Frederik Foltan had no chance to taste the atmosphere of CHL, and it's likely that Valent will continue to be the man against Vitkovice.
Click here for team statistics.
Closer look: Vitkovice Ridera Ostrava
(1-0-1-2, 4 points, 7:10, 2nd in Group E)
Vitkovice lost their first three games in the group stage, but they were all very close games. They started with a 4-2 home-ice loss to Karpat Oulu, actually out-shooting the CHL finalists, who needed a late empty-net goal to finally put them away. Then came a couple of tight-checking, defensive games on the road. The first one, in Krefeld, was 0-0 late in the third period before the home team struck twice. The next one in Oulu stayed scoreless into overtime, where Karpat won it. Vitkovice had their first point, but needed a regulation win in their last game against Krefeld to stay alive. Their offence finally woke up as they scored 3 early goals and eventually won 5-3 to overtake Die Pinguine in the standings, then had to sweat it out as they watched Karpat beat Krefeld in the group's last game, which confirmed Vitkovice's spot in the Round of 32.
Rostislav
Olesz
1+2, +1
Top Forward & CRAMO Top Scorer: Vitkovice struggled offensively in their first three games, scoring only 2 goals in their first game against Karpat Oulu before getting shut out twice in a row. They found their scoring touch in their last game, when they beat Krefeld Pinguine 5-3. Overall they scored 7 goals, so their top scorer has only 3 points – captain Rostislav Olesz. The 30-year-old winger with NHL experience has one goal and two assists and he leads his team by example. He is not afraid to go to dirty areas or even drop the gloves for his teammates. He is true leader, both on and off the ice.
Ivan
Baranka
0+2, +2
Top Defenceman: Slovakian defenceman Ivan Baranka is a new face in Ostrava, but absolutely deserves to be named here. The 31-year-old has brought leadership into locker room. He played seven seasons in the KHL and is very experienced at the international level, having played almost 80 games for his country. He started to show his qualities immediately and became key member of the Vitkovice defence, playing top-pair minutes. He plays on both the penalty kill and power play and in four CHL games he has 2 assists.
