BANSKÁ BYSTRICA – The hockey players of Banská Bystrica faced a challenging matchup in their fourth quarterfinal duel of the Tipos Extra League playoffs on their home ice, falling to Žilina with a score of 3:4 after an intense overtime period. This defeat puts Žilina in a commanding position in the best-of-seven series, now leading 3-1 in games and moving them closer to advancing.
The visiting team from Žilina started with an unchanged lineup from their previous game on Friday, demonstrating consistency in their strategy. In contrast, Banská Bystrica made several adjustments, opting not to start their usual goalkeeper, Rabčan. Instead, they replaced Kozák in defense with Žabko and Matoušek in the forward line with Výhonský, hoping to shake up their performance.
The game began at a brisk pace, and Žilina capitalized quickly, taking the lead just 36 seconds into the first period. Baláž exploited a moment of hesitation from Banská Bystrica’s Boucher in the defensive circle, deftly placing the puck into the net. The early goal set the tone for the visitors, who built on their momentum when Varga scored again in the eighth minute, similarly finding the upper right corner of the goal. This sudden two-goal deficit left the home crowd anxious and seeking a response.
Banská Bystrica, however, demonstrated resilience and managed to claw back just before the first intermission. Chicoine unleashed a powerful shot from behind the circle that whizzed through a crowd of players, finding its way past the Žilina goalkeeper and narrowing the gap to 1:2. This goal reinvigorated the home team’s hopes as they headed to the locker room, determined to rally in the upcoming periods.
