31. March 2025 at 09:09

Zvolen find their moment, Košice leave no doubt

Play-off picture takes shape as Tipos Extraliga reaches semi-final stage.

Zvolen's hockey team have advanced to the semi-finals of the Tipos Extraliga play-offs after defeating Spišská Nová Ves 3-0 in Game 6 of the quarter-final series, winning the series 4-2 overall. Zvolen's hockey team have advanced to the semi-finals of the Tipos Extraliga play-offs after defeating Spišská Nová Ves 3-0 in Game 6 of the quarter-final series, winning the series 4-2 overall. (source: TASR - Ján Krošlák)
Font size: A - | A +

They saved their best for last.

HKM Zvolen have reached the semi-finals of the Tipos Extraliga after clobbering regular-season winners HK Spišská Nová Ves 3-0 in Game 6 on 28 March, clinching the series 4-2. Just like Nitra last year, Zvolen have ousted the league’s top seed in the quarter-finals.

SkryťTurn off ads
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement
SkryťTurn off ads
Article continues after video advertisement

The breakthrough came deep in the third period. With nerves stretched and chances scarce, Andrej Kudrna struck on the power play, two metres out by the right post. It was the game’s turning point—and ultimately, its decider. Matej Macek and William Rapuzzi sealed it late, with the visitors chasing the game without a goalie. 

“We came out much more aggressive in the third period, which surprised me a bit given how flat we’d looked in the first two,” admitted Zvolen head coach Peter Mikula. “It was always going to come down to a single goal—we got it, shut down the neutral zone, and saw it through to the finish.”

SkryťTurn off ads
Tipos Extraliga:

Across the country, HC Košice needed just 20 minutes to make their own statement on Friday night. The five first-period goals in Trenčín silenced the home crowd and sent the Eastern giants through with a 7-2 win, also wrapping up their series 4-2.

“We were relentless early,” said Košice captain Michal Chovan. “That’s the level we need every game.”

The semi-final matchups are now set: Zvolen will face Košice, while HK Nitra meet Vlci Žilina. But for Spišská Nová Ves, the wait for the finals will go on.

“It was our best game of the series,” lamented head coach Vladimír Záborský. “But we couldn’t crack [Pavel] Kantor. It’s hockey karma—we lost this in the first three games.”

Tipos Extraliga:

Tipos Extraliga semi-final schedule

Matchup

Game

Date

Venue

HC Košice vs HKM Zvolen

1

Wed 2 April

Košice

2

Thu 3 April

Košice

3

Sun 6 April

Zvolen

4

Mon 7 April

Zvolen

(if needed)

5

Thu 10 April

Košice

6

Sat 12 April

Zvolen

7

Mon 14 April

Košice

HK Nitra vs Vlci Žilina

1

Fri 4 April

Nitra

2

Sat 5 April

Nitra

3

Tue 8 April

Žilina

4

Wed 9 April

Žilina

(if needed)

5

Fri 11 April

Nitra

6

Sun 13 April

Žilina

7

Tue 15 April

Nitra

SkryťTurn off ads

Final 2024/25 standings for teams placed fifth to 12th:

  1. HK Spišská Nová Ves

  2. HC ´05 Banská Bystrica

  3. HK Poprad

  4. HK Dukla Trenčín

  5. HC Slovan Bratislava

  6. HK Dukla Ingema Michalovce

  7. HK 32 Liptovský Mikuláš

  8. HC Nové Zámky

SkryťClose ad