Last week in Brno, the two teams were tied 2-2 after 40 minutes. In the third period, Kometa scored twice to take a two-goal lead and then EV Zug scored in the last minute to come within one, with all three goals scored on the power play. That eventful third period sets the stage for the second leg in Switzerland, with the visiting Czech champs clinging to a one-goal lead.

“The guys did everything we asked of them, stuck to the game plan, played really well as a team and earned the win, said Kometa assistant coach Jiří Horáček. Looking ahead to the second game, he said: “We’ll see what the game in Zug brings but we won’t know till it’s done.”

“We were behind most of the game but the guys kept fighting, kept plugging away, and we took a couple of penalties in the last period that we didn’t need but the guys kept fighting, so that’s a good sign,” Zug head coach Harald Kreis commented.  

Since last week’s game, Kometa have won twice and have returned to a share of top spot in the Extraliga with 40 points. Likewise, Zug won both games this past week, both on home ice, and have climbed to sixth in the National League standings.