Article
Acolatse and Maier Score 47 Seconds Apart — Slovan Lead Series 2-1
Slovan beat Nitra 4-2 in Game 3 of the Slovak Extraliga final. Acolatse and Maier scored 47 seconds apart to flip a 0-1 deficit; Kiviaho stopped 43 of 45 — Slovan leads the series 2-1.
Acolatse and Maier Score 47 Seconds Apart — Slovan Lead Series 2-1
HC Slovan Bratislava defeated HK Nitra 4-2 in Game 3 of the 2025/26 Tipsport liga final on Thursday and now lead the best-of-seven series 2-1. The decisive sequence came inside 47 seconds at the end of the first period, where Slovan turned a 0-1 deficit into a 2-1 lead.
HC Slovan Bratislava 4-2 HK Nitra (2-1, 0-1, 2-0)
Goals: 14:21 Acolatse (Marcinko, Bačik), 15:08 Maier (Pecararo, Elson), 45:42 Šimun (Dmowski, Pecararo, PP), 59:50 Varga (Dmowski, EN) – 13:34 Čederle (Paulovič, Krištof, PP), 28:30 Lacka (SH).
Goalies: Kiviaho 43 saves on 45 – Patrikainen. Penalties: 2-3 (2 min). Power plays: 1-1. Shorthanded: 0-1. Attendance: 9,859.
/series stands: 2-1 Slovan/
Čederle Opens, Slovan Strikes Back in 47 Seconds
Slovan came in with the series tied 1-1 after splitting the first two games in Nitra. Visitors struck first when Sebastian Čederle finished a Paulovič-Krištof power-play setup at 13:34 — Slovan trailed 0-1 inside the first period.
The response was almost instant. At 14:21, defenseman Sena Acolatse buried a Marcinko-Bačik feed past Jasper Patrikainen for 1-1. Forty-seven seconds later, Patrik Maier finished a Pecararo-Elson sequence high blocker side — 2-1 Slovan. Tehelné Pole erupted, and {{homeTeam}} carried that lead into the first intermission.
Lacka's Shorthanded Equalizer
The second period belonged to Nitra. At 28:30 on the penalty kill, Jakub Lacka pounced on a Slovan defensive turnover, broke in alone, and roofed a backhand past Kiviaho — 2-2. The visitors had multiple chances to take the lead, but Kiviaho stood tall and the period ended even.
Šimun and Varga Put It Away
The decisive blow came at 45:42 on a Slovan power play — Eduard Šimun finished a Dmowski-Pecararo combination from the slot — 3-2. With Nitra's net empty in the dying seconds, Robert Varga added the empty-netter at 59:50 (Dmowski) — 4-2.
Kiviaho finished with 43 saves on 45 shots — a 95.56 % stop rate, his best in the series. "It was a fantastic effort when we needed it," he said afterward.
What It Means
Slovan now lead the final 2-1 with Game 4 also in Bratislava. A win there would put {{homeTeam}} within one game of the Slovak title; a Nitra response would tie the series 2-2 and shift the pressure back. The first two games combined for 17 goals — Game 3 was tighter, but no less decisive in shaping the rest of the final.