28 March 2026 at 17:00
Match Summary
Kosice defeated Ban. Bystrica 3:2 after ot. The match was played in Extraliga 2025. Goals were scored by T. Zigo 7′, M. Rosandic 14′, O. Galipeau 5′, M. Liscinsky 14′, S. Jellus 5′. League standings: Ban. Bystrica #6, Kosice #3. Score by period: P1: 1–1, P2: 1–1, P3: 0–0, OT: 0–1.
Match Context
Tipsport Liga Quarterfinal Playoffs — Game 6
A Banska Bystrica win would have ended the series 4-2 and sent them to the semifinals. Kosice needed victory to stay alive and force a deciding Game 7.
Pre-Match Analysis
Ban. Bystrica Form
Banska Bystrica had shown resilience throughout the series, winning three of five tightly contested games — four of which went to overtime. They deployed backup goaltender Mitens for the first time in the series.
Kosice Form
Kosice arrived having won Game 5 in overtime to cut Bystrica's series lead to 3-2, building momentum ahead of the must-win away fixture.
Head to Head
This was the sixth meeting of the season between the two rivals. The series had been extraordinarily tight — all five previous games were decided by a single goal, with four requiring overtime. Bystrica led the series 3-2.
Injuries & Suspensions
- •R. Faith (Ban. Bystrica) — received a five-minute major and game misconduct for an illegal check to the head in the first period
Match Report
Banska Bystrica struck first in a breathless first period when T. Zigo converted a power play at the seventh minute, firing past the Kosice netminder with assists from C. Turnbull and A. Lucas. The home team's advantage was short-lived: Kosice responded emphatically just seven minutes later when M. Rosandic levelled on their own power play, capitalising after Bystrica's B. Cesanek was penalised for cross-checking. The period also saw R. Faith dismissed from the game on a five-minute major for an illegal check to the head, a costly blow to the home side's depth. The second period continued in the same breathless fashion. Bystrica regained the lead at the five-minute mark when O. Galipeau buried a goal from A. Lucas and C. Turnbull to make it 2-1. Kosice again showed their character, with M. Liscinsky equalising at the 14th minute, finishing off a move created by M. Bucko. The score remained 2-2 through a goalless third period, sending the match to a fifth overtime in the series. The decisive moment came at the five-minute mark of overtime when S. Jellus — who had been penalised in the opening period — wrote his name into the contest by firing the winning goal for Kosice, sending the series to a deciding Game 7.
Turning Point
The dismissal of R. Faith on a five-minute major for illegal check to the head at the tenth minute of the first period was a key moment. Bystrica lost a forward for the remainder of the match just as they held a one-goal lead, and Kosice capitalised on the very next power play to equalise.
Kosice's resilience in forcing a Game 7 was a remarkable achievement — coming back from a 3-2 series deficit and winning on the road in a potential elimination game. The series now heads to a deciding match in Kosice, giving the away side home-ice advantage for the finale. For Bystrica, the collapse of a potential clinching moment was a significant blow to their semifinal ambitions.
Match Events
Key match events between Ban. Bystrica and Kosice — 5 goals and 8 cards recorded during the match.
Interference
A. Lucas
Illegal check to the head
Cross-checking
Power-play
Tripping
C. Turnbull
Illegal equipment
Hooking
Roughing
Slashing
Ban. Bystrica vs Kosice Head to Head Results
Ban. Bystrica and Kosice have met 125 times — Ban. Bystrica won 55, Kosice won 70, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2008. Kosice leads the head-to-head with 70 victories from 125 meetings. A combined 644 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 5.15 per match (300 for the home side, 344 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 107 matches (86%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 116 games (93%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–6 in 2022.
55
Ban. Bystrica
0
Drawn
70
Kosice
Recent Meetings (125)
Standings
Ban. Bystrica sit #6 and Kosice are #3 in the Extraliga table heading into this match.
Tipsport liga - Regular Season
| # | GP | Won | Lost | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54 | 31 | 11 | 112 | |
| 54 | 26 | 13 | 102 | |
| 54 | 29 | 14 | 101 | |
| 54 | 25 | 17 | 93 | |
| 54 | 20 | 18 | 86 | |
| 54 | 23 | 22 | 83 | |
| 54 | 21 | 23 | 78 | |
| 54 | 18 | 22 | 74 | |
| 54 | 15 | 23 | 72 | |
| 54 | 19 | 24 | 72 | |
| 54 | 15 | 26 | 61 | |
12Presov | 54 | 9 | 38 | 38 |
Match Analysis AI
Jellus Overtime Winner Keeps Kosice Alive as Game 6 Thriller Forces Decider
Kosice kept their Tipsport Liga season alive with a breathtaking 3-2 overtime victory at Banska Bystrica on March 28, 2026, denying the hosts a series-clinching win in Game 6 of their quarterfinal playoff tie.
A Frantic First Period Sets the Tone
Banska Bystrica came out with intent, and T. Zigo opened the scoring at the seventh minute with a clinical power-play finish, helped by C. Turnbull and A. Lucas. The early lead was exactly what the hosts needed to settle nerves in a potential clincher.
However, the period quickly unravelled for the home side. R. Faith was sent off on a five-minute major and game misconduct for an illegal check to the head just three minutes after Zigo's opener — a massive blow that would affect the home team's bench depth for the rest of the night. Kosice made the most of the extended power play, with M. Rosandic slamming in the equaliser at the 14th minute to make it 1-1 at the first intermission.
Second Period: Back and Forth Drama
The second period delivered more of the same tension and quality that has defined this extraordinary playoff series. Bystrica restored their lead five minutes in, with O. Galipeau tapping home from close range as Turnbull and Lucas combined again to create the chance. The home crowd dared to believe.
Kosice refused to submit. M. Liscinsky, set up by M. Bucko, levelled at the 14th minute to make it 2-2. The visitors had done it again — each time Bystrica looked to pull clear, Kosice found an answer.
Goalless Third Period Sends Match to Overtime — Again
A cagey, goalless third period produced few clear-cut opportunities as both teams defended resolutely while probing for the decisive opening. For the fifth time in the six-game series, an overtime period was required.
Jellus Delivers the Killer Blow
The match was settled five minutes into overtime. S. Jellus, who had been penalised for interference in the very first minute of the contest, redeemed himself spectacularly by firing the overtime winner past the Bystrica netminder to give Kosice a 3-2 victory.
What It Means
The result ties the series at 3-3 and shifts the momentum decisively towards Kosice, who now take home-ice advantage into a deciding Game 7. For Bystrica, the pain of surrendering a series clinch on home ice will sting — but the hosts retain a chance to reach the semifinals. The deciding match was set for Monday, March 30 at the Košice arena, where the home side will carry the backing of their fans for the final time this season.
Player Ratings
S. Jellus (Kosice)
Overcame an early penalty to score the overtime winner that kept Kosice's season alive. His composure in the extra period was the defining moment of the match.
T. Zigo (Ban. Bystrica)
Opened the scoring with a well-taken power-play goal in the seventh minute, combining effectively with Turnbull and Lucas. Led Bystrica's offensive efforts throughout.
O. Galipeau (Ban. Bystrica)
Restored Bystrica's lead early in the second period with a decisive finish from a Lucas and Turnbull combination. Was a constant threat in open play.
M. Liscinsky (Kosice)
Scored the crucial equaliser in the second period to make it 2-2, assisted by Bucko. His goal prevented Bystrica from building a winning lead and kept the match alive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Banska Bystrica vs Kosice on March 28, 2026?
Kosice won 3-2 after overtime, with S. Jellus scoring the overtime winner in the fifth minute of extra time.
Who scored for Banska Bystrica?
T. Zigo scored a power-play goal in the 7th minute of the first period, and O. Galipeau scored in the 5th minute of the second period.
Who scored for Kosice?
M. Rosandic equalised on the power play in the 14th minute of the first period, M. Liscinsky made it 2-2 in the 14th minute of the second period, and S. Jellus scored the overtime winner.
What was the series standing after this Game 6?
The series was tied 3-3 after Kosice's overtime win. A decisive Game 7 was scheduled in Kosice on March 30, 2026.
What round was this match in the Tipsport Liga?
This was Game 6 of the quarterfinal playoff series between HC MONACObet Banska Bystrica and HC Kosice in the 2025-26 Tipsport Liga.
API data: 18 Apr 2026