Sukeľ's Power-Play Goal Pushes Litvínov 2:0 Up in the Series

HC Verva Litvínov beat HC Dukla Jihlava 3:1 in Game 2 of the Czech Tipsport Extraliga relegation/promotion play-off and led the best-of-seven series 2:0. The home side controlled the second period with two quick goals before a sold-out Ivan Hlinka Winter Stadium and pushed closer to top-flight safety.

HC Verva Litvínov – HC Dukla Jihlava 3:1 (1:0, 2:1, 0:0)

Goals: 9. Hlava (Pištěk, Schmiemann, PP), 27. Sukeľ (O. Kaše, Koblasa, PP), 36. D. Kaše (Moravčík, Čajan) – 22. Burkov (Ozols, Kuprijanov).

Goalies: Čajan – Beran. PIM: 9:14, PP: 2:0. Attendance: 5,944 (sold out).

/series: Litvínov leads 2:0/

Hlava Strikes First on the Power Play

{{homeTeam}} pinned Jihlava in their own end early and cashed in on the first power play of the night. In the 9th minute Nicolas Hlava finished a play from Pištěk and Schmiemann to make it 1:0. Litvínov pressed for more while Jihlava struggled to generate clean offensive-zone time.

Burkov Equalises, Sukeľ Restores the Lead in the PP

In the 22nd minute Maxim Burkov tied it 1:1 from Ozols and Kuprijanov. Parity did not last. In the 27th captain Matúš Sukeľ converted Litvínov's second power play of the game from O. Kaše and Koblasa — 2:1.

D. Kaše Seals It

In the 36th David Kaše finished the job — assists from Moravčík and goalie Pavel Čajan made it 3:1. The third period was scoreless but produced controversy: Ondřej Kaše drew an unsportsmanlike for telling referee Matěj Sýkora he should "go ref a shopping basket" — the official's wry reply, "Yeah? You want me to go ref a basket?" became the most quoted line of the night.

Jihlava coach Viktor Ujčík reflected: "Sadly, the constant penalties broke up the game. They drained an enormous amount of energy from us."

What It Means

Litvínov's 2:0 series lead and a sold-out home crowd of 5,944 stack the pressure on the away side. {{awayTeam}} must now win twice in front of their fans to drag the series back to Litvínov even. Game 3 was played on April 21 at the Horácká aréna.