Extraliga· Season 2025
HK Nitra beat HC Slovan Bratislava 5-3 in Game 5 of the Tipsport Liga final to cut the series to 2-3. After leading 3-0 after one period, Nitra survived a Slovan rally and Jakub Lacka's 60:00 power-play goal sealed it.
Match Videos
Player Ratings
1.0 – 10.0Robby Jackson
Opening goal at 0:45 (Stacha, Čederle). Set the tone of the night and gave Nitra the psychological edge it nearly squandered.
Matej Paulovič
Two goals (18:00 and 60:00 empty-net). Stepped in for the suspended Buček and produced two critical strikes including the empty-netter.
Jakub Lacka
Decisive 60:00 power-play goal for 4-3 plus assist on Chrenko's strike. Kept Nitra alive in the series.
Tomáš Královič
Power-play goal at 37:00 (Acolatse, Varga). Started Slovan's comeback from 0-3, but his team couldn't finish the job.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryNitra Survives Match Point. Lacka Wins It on the Power Play
HK Nitra beat HC Slovan Bratislava 5-3 in Game 5 of the Tipsport Liga 2025/26 final, cutting the series to 2-3 and sending the final back to Bratislava. After racing to a 3-0 first-period lead and watching Slovan tie it 3-3 in the third, Nitra got a 60:00 power-play winner from Jakub Lacka and an empty-netter from Matej Paulovič to seal a remarkable survival.
HK Nitra – HC Slovan Bratislava 5-3 (3-0, 0-2, 2-1)
Goals: 1 Jackson (Stacha, Čederle), 13 Chrenko (Lacka, Okolicány), 18 Paulovič (Krištof, Čederle), 60 Lacka (PP), 60 Paulovič (Vitaloš, Stacha, EN) – 37 Královič (Acolatse, Varga, PP), 40 Pecararo (Peterek, O'Connor, PP), 45 Dmowski (Šimun, Bačik).
Goalies: Ferguson – Kiviaho. Penalties: 4-5 minors plus Takáč 5+GM for cross-checking. Power plays: 1-2, shorthanded: 0-0. Attendance: 3,600 (sold out).
/series: 2-3/
Three goals in 18 minutes
Nitra came out flying. Robby Jackson scored 45 seconds in (Stacha, Čederle), Tomáš Chrenko added a second at 13:00 (Lacka, Okolicány) and Matej Paulovič — stepping into the lineup for the suspended Samuel Buček — made it 3-0 at 18:00 (Krištof, Čederle). The first period was a near-flawless start.
Slovan rallies — and ties it
The visitors clawed back. Tomáš Královič scored on the power play at 37:00 (Acolatse, Varga) for 1-3. Liam Pecararo's own power-play goal at 40:00 (Peterek, O'Connor) made it 2-3 at the second intermission. Robert Dmowski tied it 3-3 at 45:00 (Šimun, Bačik), and the title looked within Slovan's grasp.
The disallowed goal that flipped the night
At 56:00 Tomáš Marcinko collided with goalie Ferguson and the puck went in. Officials reviewed and ruled goaltender interference — no goal. Nitra immediately drew a power play, and Jakub Lacka beat Kiviaho at 60:00 for 4-3. Paulovič then sealed the win with an empty-netter (Vitaloš, Stacha) in the final seconds.
What it means
Nitra cuts the series to 2-3 and earns at least one more game. Slovan, missing top scorer Takáč, couldn't finish a comeback that briefly had them within seconds of a title. Game 6 in Bratislava on 28 April gives Slovan a second match point — and gives Nitra one last shot at sending the series to a winner-takes-all Game 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Game 5?
HK Nitra beat HC Slovan Bratislava 5-3 (3-0, 0-2, 2-1) on 26 April 2026 in Nitra.
What is the series score after Game 5?
Slovan leads 3-2. Game 6 is on 28 April 2026 in Bratislava.
Who scored for Nitra?
Robby Jackson (0:45, Stacha & Čederle), Tomáš Chrenko (13:00, Lacka & Okolicány), Matej Paulovič (18:00, Krištof & Čederle; 60:00 empty-net, Vitaloš & Stacha) and Jakub Lacka (60:00 PP).
Who scored for Slovan Bratislava?
Tomáš Královič (37:00 PP, Acolatse & Varga), Liam Pecararo (40:00 PP, Peterek & O'Connor) and Robert Dmowski (45:00, Šimun & Bačik).
Why was Marcinko's goal disallowed at 56:00?
Marcinko collided with goalie Ferguson, and after video review officials waved off the goal for goaltender interference. The decision was the pivotal moment of the game — that goal would have given Slovan a 4-3 lead and likely the title.
Which players were missing in Game 5?
Nitra played without Samuel Buček (one-game suspension). Slovan was missing Samuel Takáč (suspended for cross-checking from Game 4) — the leading scorer in the series.
Match Events
Key match events between Nitra and Slovan Bratislava — 8 goals and 10 cards recorded during the match.
S. Cederle
Tripping
D. Okolicany
Hooking
S. Cederle
Cross-checking
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Tripping
High sticking
R. Varga
Roughing
R. O'Connor
Roughing
Roughing
P. Bacik
Slashing
Power-play
M. Stacha
Rivalry since 2021
Nitra vs Slovan Bratislava Head to Head Results· 50
Nitra and Slovan Bratislava have met 50 times — Nitra won 20, Slovan Bratislava won 30, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2021. Slovan Bratislava leads the head-to-head with 30 victories from 50 meetings. A combined 331 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 6.62 per match (150 for the home side, 181 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 46 matches (92%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 48 games (96%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 5–8 in 2021.
Match Context
Tipsport Liga 2025/26 — playoff final, Game 5 of 7
Game 5 of the Slovak Extraliga (Tipsport Liga) playoff final. Slovan led the series 3-1 and could clinch the title with a win in Nitra; Nitra had to win or the season was over.
Nitra
A must-win to keep the season alive and force a Game 6 in Bratislava. Nitra played without suspended forward Samuel Buček.
Slovan Bratislava
Slovan could clinch its first Tipsport Liga title in Nitra. The visitors were missing Samuel Takáč, suspended for cross-checking from Game 4.
Pre-Match Analysis
Nitra Form
Nitra won Game 1 6-2 but then dropped three straight (2-7, 2-4, 3-4 SO). Series form: W-L-L-L.
Slovan Bratislava Form
Slovan won Games 2, 3 and 4 to reach championship match point. Series form: L-W-W-W.
Head to Head
Slovan led 3-1 entering the game; series goal differential 16-12 in Slovan's favor.
Match Report
Nitra came out flying — Robby Jackson scored just 45 seconds in (Stacha, Čederle) for 1-0. Tomáš Chrenko made it 2-0 at 13:00 (Lacka, Okolicány), and Matej Paulovič — replacing the suspended Buček — capped a dominant first period with a 3-0 strike at 18:00 (Krištof, Čederle). Slovan rallied in the second period: Tomáš Královič scored on the power play at 37:00 (Acolatse, Varga) for 1-3, and Liam Pecararo's power-play goal at 40:00 (Peterek, O'Connor) made it 2-3. Robert Dmowski tied the game at 45:00 (Šimun, Bačik) for 3-3. At 56:00, Tomáš Marcinko appeared to score what would have been a title-winning 4-3 for Slovan, but officials disallowed the goal after video review for goaltender interference on Ferguson. Jakub Lacka then converted on the power play at 60:00 to make it 4-3, and Paulovič scored an empty-netter (Vitaloš, Stacha) to seal a 5-3 final.
Turning Point
The disallowed Marcinko goal at 56:00. With the score 3-3 and Slovan pressing, Marcinko's apparent goal would have given Slovan the lead, the win and the title. Officials reviewed and waved it off for goaltender interference. Nitra immediately drew a power play and Lacka cashed it in at 60:00.
Nitra cuts the series to 2-3 and forces the action back to Bratislava. Slovan loses its second chance at the title and now must close out at home in Game 6 on 28 April. The absence of Takáč — the top scorer in the series — visibly affected Slovan's offense, which generated only three goals on six power-play opportunities.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 Jun 2026