Slovan Wins Shootout Thriller, Takes 3-1 Series Lead

Slovan Bratislava beat Nitra 4-3 in a shootout in Game 4 of the Tipsport Liga 2025/26 final, taking a 3-1 series lead and a championship match point. Tomáš Královič converted the decisive shootout attempt after Slovan rallied from a 2-3 third-period deficit.

HC Slovan Bratislava – HK Nitra 4-3 SO (0-0, 1-2, 2-1 – 0-0 OT, 1-0 SO)

Goals: 27 Takáč (Acolatse), 44 Elson (Dmowski, Bačik), 57 Varga (Takáč, Královič, PP), shootout Královič – 22 Lawrence (Jackson, Graham, PP), 36 Lacka (Čederle, Vitaloš, SH), 46 Lawrence (Jackson).

Goalies: Kiviaho – Ferguson. Penalties: 2-4 minors. Power plays: 1-1, shorthanded: 0-1. Attendance: 10,055 (sold out).

/series: 3-1/

Lawrence opens the scoring on the power play

The first period ended scoreless. Jamie Lawrence broke through on the power play at 22:00 from Jackson and Graham assists to make it 0-1. Samuel Takáč answered at 27:00 (Acolatse) to tie it at 1-1.

Lacka shorthanded, Lawrence again

In a curious sequence, Jakub Lacka beat Slovan's penalty kill — putting Nitra ahead shorthanded at 36:00 (Čederle, Vitaloš). Tristin Elson tied it at 44:00 (Dmowski, Bačik). Lawrence struck again at 46:00 (Jackson) for 2-3.

Varga drags the game to overtime

Samuel Buček's tripping penalty at 56:00 gave Slovan a critical late power play. Roman Varga finished a Takáč-Královič combination at 57:00 to make it 3-3. Overtime stayed scoreless. In the shootout, Královič converted the decisive attempt for the 4-3 final.

What it means

Slovan now has a championship match point with the series 3-1. Game 5 in Nitra on 26 April is Slovan's first chance to lift the cup. The second consecutive shootout in this final demonstrated Slovan's late-game composure — and Nitra's dilemma: they led three times tonight and lost. The visitors must now win three games in a row, including two on the road, to take the title.