Crimmitschau vs Mountfield HK

Mountfield needed just 3:04 to break the deadlock. A Crimmitschau defensive error gifted the puck to Viliam Čacho, who broke in alone on goaltender Leonhard Reich. Reich saved the initial attempt, but Martin Kohout was first to the rebound and tucked it home from close range.

The Lvi doubled their lead at 08:30. Defenceman Martin Plánek fired a puck towards goal from the right boards, and Markus Nenonen redirected it past Reich with a precise tip at the net-front — a well-practised set-piece that caught the home defence static.

Crimmitschau's best chance of the first period fell to Collin Adams, but Slovak goaltender Stanislav Škorvánek made a solid save to preserve the two-goal cushion.

The second period brought few clear-cut chances. Crimmitschau tested Škorvánek early when Johannes Schmid fired from the left circle, but the Mountfield netminder turned it away with his shoulder. The German side had their first power play of the game in the 14th minute of the period, yet Mountfield came closest to scoring — Kohout raced clear on a short-handed breakaway but could not beat substitute goaltender Pascal Seidel, who had replaced Reich at 31:27.

Logan Will had two dangerous looks for Crimmitschau in the latter stages of the second period — first from the slot, then from the near post — but Škorvánek denied him both times.

The game was settled at 47:07 of the third period. Radek Pilař received a pass from Michal Mudrák, stepped through a changing Crimmitschau defence, and slid the puck between Seidel's pads on a clean breakaway to make it 3–0.

Mountfield earned their first power play midway through the third period — T. J. Melancon tested Seidel with a hard shot, but the young German held firm. The Lvi managed the closing stages professionally, seeing out time without alarm.

Kohout's 4th-minute opener. A defensive giveaway inside the first five minutes on home ice forced Crimmitschau to abandon any plan they had. Against a Mountfield side that had won every pre-season match, playing from behind so early was a deficit too steep to overcome. The Lvi never looked back.

• Martin Kohout (Mountfield HK): Scored the crucial opening goal, drew a penalty-shot-calibre short-handed chance in the second period, and led the forecheck all night. A constant nuisance for the Crimmitschau defence.

• Stanislav Škorvánek (Mountfield HK): The Slovakian goaltender recorded a clean sheet with several key saves — the Schmid shoulder stop in the second period and the two denials of Logan Will were the standout moments. Composed throughout.

• Markus Nenonen (Mountfield HK): His tipped second-period goal was the decisive second strike, well-executed from Plánek's point shot. Finnish forward showing chemistry with his new linemates.

• Viliam Čacho (Mountfield HK): Two primary assists — the forced turnover on the opening goal and the setup on Nenonen's redirect. Physical and smart without the puck.

The provider-derived stat line shows a clean sheet built on controlled periods. Mountfield dominated the first 10 minutes (two goals) and never let Crimmitschau build sustained momentum. The penalty count (2–1 against Crimmitschau, 1 minor against Mountfield) reflects a disciplined road performance — the Lvi took no penalties in the first 34 minutes and killed off the only one efficiently. Neither team scored on the power play, emphasising that all three goals came at even strength. The 0–0 middle period suggests a tactical stalemate, but Škorvánek's saves in that period were arguably the most important sequence of the match — if Crimmitschau had scored, it becomes a one-goal game going into the third.

Mountfield HK are now 6–0–0 in pre-season — a run that began with a 3–0 win at Jihlava on 5 August and has included victories over Olomouc (3–2), Salzburg (2–1 SO), Liberec (6–4) and Graz 99ers (6–1). The perfect record builds momentum ahead of the Tipsport Extraliga season, which opens for the Lvi on 16 September away at HC Dynamo Pardubice.

Crimmitschau, who compete in Germany's DEL2, continue their pre-season schedule as hosts of the CCM Cup — a four-team tournament that also features Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven and HC Škoda Plzeň.

Mountfield's next test comes on Saturday 29 August, when they face Fischtown Pinguins Bremerhaven (PENNY DEL) in the CCM Cup at the same venue. Crimmitschau play HC Škoda Plzeň on 29 August in the tournament's other semi-final.

This was a near-perfect pre-season road performance from Mountfield HK. An early goal, a clean sheet, disciplined penalty killing, and no injuries. Six wins from six does not guarantee regular-season success, but the structure and confidence Tomáš Martinec's side is building suggests they will arrive at the Pardubice opener ready. Crimmitschau, for their part, were competitive in the middle period but lacked the finishing touch in the final third.