Ceske Budejovice vs Slovan Bratislava

A tight first period produced only one goal. Slovan struck first at 12:05 when Liam Pecararo finished a quick counter-attack from the right circle, set up by Jonáš Peterek. České Budějovice pressed hard in the opening frame, hitting the post and forcing Slovan goalkeeper Julian Junca into several sharp saves, but entered the first intermission trailing 1-0.

The second period swung back and forth. Tomáš Kundrátek levelled at 32:52, converting Vála's feed through traffic after the big defenceman drove through the heart of Slovan's defence. Slovan regained the lead on the power play at 38:12 when Oliver Eklind fired home from the slot (assists: Dmowski, Pecararo). But Renars Krastenbergs answered just 52 seconds later at 39:04, stripping a Slovan defender of the puck and beating Junca to the far post to send the sides tied 2-2 into the second intermission.

The third period was mayhem. Parker Bell tipped Roman Vráblík's point shot past Junca at 41:53 to give České Budějovice their first lead. Then came a 28-second sequence that defined the match. Samuel Solenský equalised at 45:41 on a two-on-one with Ján Petriska. Jan Ordoš replied from the slot at 45:58 (assist: Lantoši) to restore the home lead. And Jonáš Peterek tucked in a loose puck off the end boards at 46:09 (assist: Bondra) to make it 4-4 — three goals in 28 seconds.

Both teams hit the iron in the final minutes — Pecararo rattled a post for Slovan — and regulation finished 4-4.

Slovan coach's decision to pull Junca in 3-on-3 overtime with the puck in the offensive zone was the game's defining gamble. With České Budějovice keeping only one man back, Samuel Buček collected the loose puck, strode into the zone and fired a tight-angle shot past Strmeň's blocker at 60:23 for the empty-net winner. It was Buček's first goal of the pre-season and a high-risk play that paid off immediately.

Samuel Buček (Slovan Bratislava) — Scored the overtime winner with the net empty in a daring 3-on-3 sequence. His first goal of pre-season arrived at the most decisive moment.

Liam Pecararo (Slovan Bratislava) — One goal and one assist. Opened the scoring in the first period and hit a post in the third that would have put Slovan ahead. Consistently dangerous on the counter.

Renars Krastenbergs (České Budějovice) — Scored the tying goal just before the second intermission, forcing a turnover and beating Junca cleanly. His speed created problems all night.

Roman Vráblík (České Budějovice) — Primary assist on Bell's go-ahead goal and several hard point shots that tested Junca. Led the home defence in offensive-zone time.

Player of the match: Samuel Buček — One shot, one goal, the winner. The OT empty-net strike was the difference.

The nine-goal total aligns precisely with the historic average in this fixture (5.25 per previous meeting, with both teams scoring in all four). What stands out is the scoring rhythm: three goals in 28 seconds of the third period (45:41–46:09), a pace that even pre-season friendlies rarely match. Slovan's power-play conversion (1/3) was efficient; České Budějovice went 0/3 with the man advantage but created more zone time. The 1,810 attendees at Budvar aréna witnessed a game where both teams led at different stages — Slovan twice, then České Budějovice twice — before overtime.

Slovan Bratislava's first pre-season win after a 5-6 loss to Třinec earlier in the week gives the Slovak vice-champions positive momentum ahead of their next friendly against Austrian side Vienna Capitals on 22 August. For České Budějovice, the defeat leaves their pre-season record at one loss from one outing; they face the same Vienna Capitals opposition on 22 August as well. Both sides are building toward their respective domestic league openers in September.

A gloriously chaotic pre-season friendly that Slovan won through sheer nerve — pulling the goalie in 3-on-3 overtime is a statement of intent. Nine goals, three in 28 seconds, and a walking-wounded goaltender highlight. The Slovak side's resilience after trailing twice in the third period suggests their pre-season chemistry is further along than the scoreline alone might indicate.