Plzen vs Karlovy Vary

The opening period ended goalless after a cagey start from both sides. Plzeň's best chances came from Pšenička at the left post and Rubins from close range, but Karlovy Vary goalkeeper Dominik Frodl was equal to both. The visitors responded through Egle, who cut through the slot, and Jones at the far post, yet Jan Růžička held firm in the Plzeň net. The period's only power play — a boarding call — yielded nothing.

The deadlock broke early in the second period. Robertson, a Canadian defensive recruit in Plzeň's summer rebuild, intercepted a Karlovy Vary clearance at the blue line, stepped to the top of the right circle and wired a shot inside the near post at 21:10 for his first goal in club colours. No assist was recorded. Plzeň killed a subsequent penalty and carried the 1–0 lead into the second intermission after Malák blocked two shots in quick succession.

The third period brought growing urgency from Energie. Plzeň killed another minor penalty to open the frame, then Robertson almost doubled the lead — first denied by Frodl's pad on a backhand, then by the goalkeeper's glove. Karlovy Vary pulled Frodl for an extra attacker with 2:50 remaining and called a timeout at 59:33, but the Plzeň defence anchored by Robertson and Kristiáns Rubins held firm.

Robertson's 21:10 strike — his first goal for the club — forced Karlovy Vary to chase for 38 minutes. Plzeň's ability to protect the one-goal lead, particularly while shorthanded, was the decisive phase of the match.

• Carter Robertson (Plzeň) — The Canadian defenceman scored the only goal on his pre-season debut and logged steady defensive minutes during Karlovy Vary's late push.
• Jan Růžička (Plzeň) — Named best home player by iSport.cz, the veteran posted a shutout with key saves in the third period.
• Dominik Frodl (Karlovy Vary) — Named best visitor after keeping his side level for 21 minutes; beaten only by a well-placed shot he could do little about.
• Kristiáns Rubins (Plzeň) — The Latvian blue-liner anchored the penalty kill, which neutralised all three Karlovy Vary power plays.

The 4–3 penalty count (Plzeň four, Karlovy Vary three, per the official match sheet) reflects a disciplined but physical derby. Neither side found offensive fluency: Plzeň edged the special-teams battle by killing all three power plays faced, while Karlovy Vary killed two of their own but mounted little sustained pressure with the man advantage. The 1–0 scoreline, identical to Plzeň's last win over Karlovy Vary in December 2022, accurately reflects a contest dominated by defences and goalkeepers.

Plzeň open their pre-season with a win under interim head coaches Jiří Veber and Václav Pletka, deputising for Josef Jandač (Achilles surgery recovery). Karlovy Vary, who beat Sokolov 6–3 in their only other friendly, slip to 1–1. Plzeň next face Eispiraten Crimmitschau on 29 August at a tournament in Germany, while Karlovy Vary continue their pre-season schedule ahead of the 2026–27 Tipsport Extraliga season.

A disciplined, workmanlike display from a Plzeň side still finding its rhythm under interim coaching. Robertson's early second-period goal separated the sides on a night when defences dominated and both goalkeepers impressed. Pre-season derbies rarely offer more than this tight 1–0 intensity.