HC Košice Defeat Banská Bystrica in Thrilling Playoff Opener
Košice secured a 3-2 victory over Banská Bystrica in the first game of the Tipsport Liga playoff quarterfinal series on Wednesday, March 18, 2026. The game went to overtime, with Mislav Rosandič scoring the winning goal for Košice.
Game Summary
The match, played in Košice, ended with a final score of 3-2 in favor of the home team after an intense overtime period. The series is a best-of-four format, meaning the first team to win four games advances.
Key Moments
- 12th Minute: Marek Valach opened the scoring for Banská Bystrica, giving them an early 1-0 lead.
- 48th Minute: Mário Lunter equalized for Košice, tying the game at 1-1.
- 49th Minute: Lukáš Tomka quickly restored Banská Bystrica’s lead, making it 2-1.
- 59th Minute: With just 10 seconds remaining in regulation time, Mislav Rosandič scored to tie the game 2-2, forcing overtime.
- 70th Minute (Overtime): Mislav Rosandič completed his heroic performance, scoring the winning goal in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory for Košice.
Scoring Details
Košice Goals:
- Mário Lunter (assisted by Simon Jellúš and Olexi Dakhnovsky)
- Mislav Rosandič (assisted by Tomáš Mikúš)
- Mislav Rosandič (assisted by Michal Chovan and Šimon Petráš)
Banská Bystrica Goals:
- Marek Valach (assisted by Tomáš Zigo)
- Lukáš Tomka (assisted by David Šoltés and Olivier Galipeau)
Game Statistics
Referees: Štefik, Baluška – Stanzel, Durmis
Penalties: 2-5 (Košice-Banská Bystrica)
Power Play: 0-0
Attendance: 4023
Next Game
The second game of the series is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 17:30 in Košice’s Steel Arena. TASR reports that this will be the second consecutive game played in Košice.
Series Outlook
With Košice taking the first game, they now hold a 1-0 lead in the best-of-four series. However, Banská Bystrica will be looking to bounce back in the next game and even the score. The series promises to be a competitive one, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination. Šport.sk notes this is the sixth playoff series between the two clubs, with the home team having won the previous five series.