Karlovy Vary vs Sokolov

The third period belonged entirely to Karlovy Vary. Captain Josef Myšák launched the comeback, firing a point shot that Dybal could only parry, and Jan Bambula — first to the rebound — tapped home at 44:28 on the power play to make it 3-3.

Karlovy Vary kept pressing. Adam Lukošik nearly scored from a rebound at the far post, but Dybal denied him with an outstretched pad. Chances flowed at both ends before the decisive moment arrived at 52:54. During a delayed penalty on Sokolov, Josef Myšák stepped off the blue line, cut to the slot, and picked the top-left corner to put the Energy ahead for the first time all night — 4-3.

Sokolov had a power play chance to reply immediately but Karlovy Vary's penalty kill held firm. Pavel Kůrka then scored his first goal for the senior team at 56:03, sliding home a Kryštof Dyk feed from the slot to make it 5-3. Just 22 seconds later, Jan Bambula completed his hat-trick by tipping Roberts Mamčics' point shot past Dybal for 6-3.

• Jan Bambula (Karlovy Vary) — 3 goals (24:44, 44:28, 56:25). The 24-year-old forward, who signed a new contract through 2028 earlier this summer, was the difference-maker. Two of his goals came in tight spaces around the crease; the hat-trick goal was a deft tip. Player of the Match.
• Josef Myšák (Karlovy Vary, C) — 1 goal (52:54) + 1 assist (44:28). The captain scored the winner and set up Bambula's equaliser. His decision to step off the blue line during a delayed penalty was the tactical moment that broke the game open.
• Nicholas Jones (Karlovy Vary) — 1 goal (27:09) + 1 assist (24:44). Created the breakaway for Bambula's first goal and scored the equaliser himself.
• Martin Osmík (Sokolov) — 1 goal (3:37) + 1 assist (37:41). The most dangerous player for the visitors, involved in two of their three goals.

The period-by-period scoring — 0-2, 2-1, 4-0 — tells a clear story of momentum. Karlovy Vary managed only sporadic chances in the first period while Sokolov converted efficiently. But shots, zone time and quality chances all tilted decisively toward the Energy from the second period onward, with the third period being a complete siege of the Sokolov zone. Karlovy Vary's ability to generate four goals in the final frame against a tiring second-tier opponent reflects both superior conditioning and depth.

This was Karlovy Vary's first proper pre-season friendly (1-1). The Energy continue their summer schedule with a #WestDerby at HC Škoda Plzeň on 20 August, followed by a trip to Litvínov on 27 August and home games against Kladno (1 Sept) and Litvínov (3 Sept) before their Extraliga season-opener. Sokolov return to Maxa Liga preparations ahead of their own regular-season start in September.

Karlovy Vary's recovery from a two-goal deficit against a lower-division opponent is more instructive for how they lost composure in the first 20 minutes than how they dominated the final 40. But Bambula's hat-trick and Myšák's captain's performance offer real encouragement ahead of the Extraliga season. Sokolov's inability to withstand third-period pressure is a concern they will need to address before the Maxa Liga campaign begins.