Yet, as they took the ice in Kladno on Friday night, the Kometa players knew they weren't in a position to control their own destiny. They needed to win and they needed help. In the game they could control, they did their job, getting 2 goals from Jozef Balej in a 5-1 road win. After that, they could only hope that either Energie Karlovy Vary or Benzina Litvínov, or both, lost in regulation.
Goalmouth action from Friday night's Česke Budějovice (red)- Karlovy vary game. Photo: hokejcb.cz. |
The Česke Budějovice-Karlovy Vary game can be seen in its entirety here:
http://www.ct24.cz/sport/115889-vary-jdou-i-pres-prohru-do-predkola-play-off.
Like Karlovy Vary, Benzina Litvínov also needed only a single point to qualify for the post-season. They trailed the visiting Liberec team 4-3 in the third period, but Richard Jareš tied the game with just under 16 minutes to play. Then, with only 1:29 remaining in regulation time, Jareš struck again with the game-winner, putting an exclamation point on the game and assuring his team a playoff spot.
Goals from the Litvínov-Liberec game can be seen here:
http://www.hokej-litvinov.cz/files/videoplayer/videa/goly-18-2-11.flv
Třinec's Martin Lojek and Plzeň's John Lammers collide on Friday. Photo: hcocelari.cz. |
BK Mladá Boleslav kept alive their hope of avoiding a play-out series by beating visiting Slavia Praha 1-0. Former Vancouver Giants goaltender Marek Schwarz made 26 saves for the shutout. Boleslav still sits in last place, but trails Kladno by only 2 points. In their last game, Boleslav visits Eaton Pardubice, while Kladno hosts Litvínov.
With Karlovy Vary and Litvínov clinching, all 10 playoff teams have now been decided. As well, the top six teams, who automatically advance to the quarterfinals, have been determined as well. Games on Sunday will determine seeds 3 through 6, and 8 through 10.
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