Zlin vs Zilina

Zlín entered the match having kept clean sheets in both of their opening pre-season fixtures (1–0 vs Zvolen, 2–0 vs Nitra), and they extended that defensive solidity into the opening period. The breakthrough came at 17:50 when Doktor finished from close range after a feed from captain Petr Holík and Radek Číp, giving the home side a 1–0 lead at the first break.

Žilina emerged transformed after the interval. They levelled at 31:11 through Šimon Petráš, who converted a feed from Kamil Walega and Tomáš Török. Just 2:51 later, the visitors completed a rapid swing — Kamil Walega fired home from the left circle on the power play, with Kirill Ďjakov and Marek Hecl assisting, making it 1–2 at 34:02.

The third period belonged to Žilina. Matúš Holenda extended the lead to 1–3 at 47:48, burying a rebound after Šimon Petráš's initial shot hit iron. Zlín refused to wilt — trailing by two, they pulled goalkeeper Daniel Huf for an extra skater and Radek Číp struck on the power play at 59:25, assisted by Petr Šenkeřík and Petr Holík, to cut the deficit to 2–3. But any hopes of a miracle finish evaporated 14 seconds later when Rastislav Dej fired into the empty net to make it 2–4 final.

Žilina's three-minute, two-goal burst late in the second period (31:11–34:02) flipped the match entirely. Zlín had controlled the first period with disciplined defence but never recovered from conceding twice in quick succession before the second intermission. The visitors' power-play conversion at 34:02 was particularly damaging — it came just 10 seconds after Petr Šenkeřík's slashing penalty, punishing Zlín's momentary lapse in discipline.

Kamil Walega (Žilina) — One goal and one primary assist; his power-play strike at 34:02 was the decisive moment of the second-period turnaround. His chemistry with Török and Petráš caused constant problems for the Zlín defence.

Šimon Petráš (Žilina) — Scored the crucial equaliser and set up Holenda's third-period goal. His two-point night (1+1) was the statistical backbone of Žilina's attack.

Radek Číp (Zlín) — Registered a goal and an assist (the primary helper on Doktor's opener), and scored late to give his side a glimmer of hope. His production was the lone bright spot in an otherwise frustrating evening for the home attack.

Andrej Košarišťan (Žilina) — Solid in net, making key saves during Zlín's third-period push, including a sprawling stop on Brett Ritchie's close-range chance at 52:25.

Zlín's scoreless streak stretched to 125 minutes before Žilina broke through — the Bears had opened the preseason with two consecutive shutouts (3–0 aggregate) but conceded four in a single evening. The period scoring split — 1–0 Zlín in the first, 0–2 Žilina in the second, 1–2 in the third — tells the story of a game that tilted decisively on Žilina's second-period acceleration. Zlín outshot their opponents in the first period but were outworked in the middle frame, when Žilina generated sustained offensive zone time and drew the penalties that proved decisive.

For Zlín (coached by Peter Oremus), this is a valuable early-season check — their perfect defensive start is gone, and the response to adversity will be the key takeaway before the Maxa Liga season begins. They face HK Dukla Trenčín next at home on 20 August.

For Žilina (coached by Milan Bartovič), this is their second win of preseason following the 3–1 victory over Banská Bystrica. The Wolves have scored multiple goals in three of their four summer friendlies and look increasingly cohesive ahead of the Tipsport Liga campaign starting 15 September. They face Trenčín at home on 21 August.

Žilina were the sharper, more organised side over 60 minutes. Zlín's first-period discipline unravelled spectacularly in the second, and despite a late power-play strike they never truly looked like recovering from the two-goal deficit. A deserved win for the Slovak visitors, exposing the gaps still remaining in Zlín's preseason preparations.