,fit(1200:))
HC 05 TAM Banská Bystrica defeated HK Poprad 4–0 on home ice during the seventh round of the Tipsport liga. The victory lifts Banská Bystrica to their third win in a row in the standings, while Poprad leaves empty-handed after struggling to convert scoring chances in front of 2,097 spectators. Banská Bystrica had previously won three of their last five games, moving to eighth place with 8 points before this match.
Banská Bystrica Controls the Opening Period
The home side established momentum early when Lukáš Tomka opened the scoring at the 4:00 mark, converting a pass from Dominik Jendek and Adam Varga during a counterattack. Rok Tičar doubled the lead at 11:00 with a finish past goaltender Filip Belányi, assisted by Marek Valach and Roman Faith. Shortly after, Dávid Šoltés added a third goal from the slot off a feed from Loshing, forcing Poprad to call an immediate timeout. The goal occurred at the 12:00 mark.
Missed Opportunities and Third-Period Sealing Goal
Poprad mounted pressure in the middle frame, particularly during an extended two-man advantage when Banská Bystrica defended the power play. However, the visiting team failed to capitalize on the prolonged power play. Banská Bystrica cleared the puck toward the opposing goal at 35:08 to end the man-advantage. An apparent goal in the third period at 44:51 was overturned following a video review due to an offside call against Alex Šotek. Boris Žabka secured the 4–0 final score at 52:00 by collecting a pass in the slot and beating Belányi cleanly. The young defenseman was assisted by Roman Faith and Marek Valach. In the closing minutes, Adam Cracknell attempted to score from the left post at 51:12, but the home keeper remained unbeaten. The game ended with simultaneous penalties at 58:15, as Boris Česánek and Tomáš Zigo of Banská Bystrica and Adam Dvořák of Poprad all received two-minute minors for roughness.
Banska Bystrica ties Poprad in league table
The victory pulls Banská Bystrica even with Poprad in the league table, elevating the club into fifth place. Poprad entered the fixture sitting fourth in the standings with 11 points, having recently secured a 4–3 shootout win against Žilina. Other recent Poprad results include a 5–4 overtime win against Slovan on Sept. 27 and a 6–3 loss to Košice on Sept. 25. Goaltender Evan Buitenhuis earned game-star honors for his shutout performance, anchoring the defense alongside a blocked-shot effort that neutralized Poprad’s special teams. Poprad’s lineup featured Sebastian Brath in the attack, replacing the injured Michal Stančeka and Michael Vandas, while Ľubomír Malina returned to a seven-man defensive unit. Due to illness, Július Hudáčka was absent, leaving Filip Belányi to start with Sebastian Martinko as the backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were named the best players of the match?
Evan Buitenhuis and Peter Bjalončík received top player honors for the encounter.
What was the attendance at the stadium?
A total of 2,097 spectators attended the seventh-round league fixture at the home arena in Banská Bystrica.
Why was Poprad’s third-period goal disallowed?
The referees reviewed the play via video replay at 44:51 and determined that Alex Šotek was in an offside position prior to the scoring sequence.
Related reading