BRATISLAVA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- HC '05 Banska Bystrica defeated their rivals HK Nitra 3-2 in the first game of the playoff finals of the nation's top ice-hockey league the Tipsport Liga on Tuesday.
Banska Bystrica are going for their third consecutive league title, having defeated Nitra and Trencin in the previous two seasons.
Banska Bystrica, a team based in a former mining town from the central part of Slovakia, boasts the biggest team roster in the league, which could prove to be a deciding factor in the series against Nitra, with the club from the western region suffering many injuries on the road to the finals.
But what it lacks in numbers it makes up in fighting spirit, as Nitra seeks to repeat their victory over the 'Barani' in the 2015/2016 season.
The first clash lived up to expectations. Hosts Banska Bystrica, the winner of the regular season, scored an early and lucky goal when the puck ricocheted off Patrik Lamper's skate and past goalkeeper Miroslav Hanuljak's back. Nitra managed to strike back only three minutes later when Lantosi prevailed in the scrimmage in front of home goalie Stephon Williams to level the score 1-1.
The second period was when the visitors shined. Nitra dominated on all fronts with better skating, passing, shooting and taking the puck to the net. Their efforts were rewarded with Juraj Siska's goal to take the 2-1 lead.
The Canadian-born coach Dan Ceman managed to rally his team in the third period and late in the game. Banska Bystrica evened the score with Marek Bartanus capitalizing on Branislav Mezei's tripping penalty and sending the match into sudden-death overtime.
Again, it was Mezei's fault that allowed the home team to break away and score the golden goal only two and a half minutes into the overtime when Tomas Zigo capitalized on a rebound the seal the 3-2 victory for Banska Bystrica.
Banska Bystrica will host Nitra at home on Thursday in the second game of the finals.
