Hockey from Werk Arena got underway when Oceláři Třinec hosted Slovan Bratislava for their fifth contest and first meeting during the 2021/22 campaign.

Despite being out of the Playoff picture, both teams still had something to play for - Třinec was searching for their first points and Slovan had eyes on achieving their first Champions Hockey League win.

The home side came out buzzing, firing seven shots on net before the midway mark of the first period. Most of Třinec's chances, however, came from low danger zones and didn’t challenge Slovan netminder Kristers Gudlevskis much. 

As the period pressed on, it was all cyclical hockey. Třinec sent it deep into their end, Slovan retrieved it, got it out and on it went until a penalty against the Czech side would give the visitors their best chance of the opening stanza. 

Slovan's 30th ranked powerplay did well to start the man-advantage, generating some chances and opening some lanes, but ultimately failed to solve Trinec’s Ondřej Kacetl, leaving the score level to end the first. 

Second period action began with Třinec drawing first blood three minutes in off a Jan Jaroměřský wrister from the left point. The 33-year-old defenceman walked the line where he found an opening and fired it home to give the hosts the advantage.

For all of Slovan's efforts to find the equaliser, the visitors' goal drought continued into the third period as a late powerplay proved fruitless for a second time leaving the home side to take a one to nothing lead into the final frame.

With 40 minutes gone, Slovan were in desperation mode down by one to begin the third, but Třinec had other ideas. 

Just 29 seconds in, a 3-on-3 developed into a 2-on-1 and some brotherly love gave the Czechs a 2-goal cushion. Michal Kovařčík slid a cross-crease feed that found his older brother Ondřej Kovařčík who bunted it into a yawning cage giving him his first tally of the tournament.

Seven minutes later, Třinec killed off another penalty only to enjoy their own man-advantage for the first time on the night. And one would be all they needed as the home side used the extra attacker with precision and went up three courtesy of Roman Szturc who found twine from the far circle, marking his first of the campaign.

After that, it would be all Ondřej Kacetl who pitched a 27-save shutout whilst a two-goal third period sealed the victory for the hosts as they secured their first win and their first points of the competition.