In the 40th round of the Tipsport league, we played against Dukla Trenčín. The three previous games against Dukla ended with a narrow victory of our players, thus, we all expected that the 4th game of this season would also be a dramatic fight. 

Game opening brought several penalties on both sides, but the score remained unchanged. The only 1st period goal was scored by the visiting team that left the ice with a 1-0 advantage. Not even a minute after the start of the middle part, our most productive player, Marcel Haščák, tied. Our players didn't slack off after the game-tying goal - in just under 4 minutes, Branislav Rapáč scored his 11th goal of the ongoing season. The Steelers took a 2-1 lead. Trenčín players managed to tie in the middle of the 3rd period. But the joy of the "yellow-reds" didn't last long. It was Jakub Suja, who scored his second game-winning goal to let us gain 3 points. We interviewed our guys right after the game.

Branislav Rapáč:

4 games in 2020, and your 4th goal. What's behind your shooting luck?

"Thank god I finally began to light the lamp. My tasks in the team are slightly different than to score goals, but of course, I am really happy each time I score. For these goals, I have to thank namely my team-mates."

Each time you scored, it was Dalibor Bortňák who sent you the puck. Could we say that his style of playing suits you? 

"Me and Dalibor have been playing on the same line for 2 years and we get on well not only in hockey but also in real life. We're used to each other and I like him on the line. It's always better to play with guys who I have a close relationship with besides hockey as well.

There’s only 1-point difference between Košice and the 2nd team - Banská Bystrica.  Is there any tension in the locker room?

"Well, personally, I don't really pay attention to other teams.  I only check scores of the games where my friends perform, I always keep my fingers crossed for them, but otherwise, I don't really watch the matches. We have to focus namely on ourselves, win games and not to watch how other teams are doing."

Marcel Haščák:

How would you evaluate today's game?

"It was a brilliant game today, Trenčín's play was amazing. I am really glad that we kept fighting in the 2nd period and turned the score back in our favor."

Today, you put on your jersey after a short break caused by an injury. How did you feel on the ice?

"Surprisingly I felt really good on the ice, but at the end I felt I’d really had enough. I am glad that we won, we made the fans happy, and I was able to score after an injury.

You are on one offensive line with Dávid Skokan, things have been going exceptionally well for both of you when it comes to points. Why is it so?

"We're all complex players, we help one another and then it works."

Jakub Suja:

What were your goals before the game?

"We go to each game with the same goal - to win, we won't allow anything else. Each time we wish for a victory and I think we're slowly getting on the right path that we want to follow. Hopefully we'll get the most of the play off."

This season's games against Dukla Trenčín are rather tight, there's always just 1-goal difference. What's behind that?

"There have been many excellent games this season, Dukla has a strong cadre, they skate well so it's always about showing mettle and good skating."

At the beginning of the season, you didn't really have luck for scoring but now it has turned eventually - on Friday you scored the game-winning goal in Nové Zámky, and you had the last word in today's match as well. What do you ascribe it to?

"I've been trying to play a simple game, I've been trying the whole season, however I didn't score many times at the beginning. Finally, it turned, so I hope I will go on like this and be a great help for the team. I also have to praise my team-mates, Bortňák and Rapák. We've always said that it is the simple game that bears fruit, so we need to go on like this."

Teams' coaches evaluate the game:

Peter Draisaitl (HC Košice Main coach): "It was a thrilling game of two excellent hockey teams. At the moment, we're able to play great hockey, despite some bad parts, when we struggled. It requires better consistency, fighting the whole 60 minutes. Special praise for the last 3 or 4 games belongs to the 3rd line, Bortňák, Rapáč, Suja. This line has recently been the best and it's not a coincidence that they decided today's game. What I liked about today's game is that even if Dukla scored a 2-2 tying goal, we didn't start to focus only on defense but we kept fighting."

Ján Pardavý (HK Dukla Trenčin Main coach): "I think today we saw a great thrilling match where everything was open till the end. We deserved at least 1 point for the 1st and 3rd period.  Unfortunately, in hockey we don't take into account performance, the home team scored more goals.  We were great during penalty killings, we took the lead. We had no control over the game during the second period, we were under enormous pressure for 15 minutes and we conceded 2 goals due to lack of attention. In the third period we returned to a simple game and movement from the 1st period, created some scoring chances and tied. After that we gave Košice space to play, threaten us and they managed to score the final goal."

After this season's 4th victory against Trenčín we gained 3 important points and maintained our 1st place in the standings. We're only 1 point ahead the second team, Banská Bystrica. The upcoming match will take place on Tuesday on the ice of Slovan Bratislava, which actually occupies the 4th place. The Steelers will return to home ice on Friday January 17th to welcome visitors from Liptovský Mikuláš. Opening face-off is scheduled to 5.30 PM.