BRATISLAVA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- HK Poprad defeated HK Dukla Michalovce 5-2 in Game 4 on Tuesday thanks to a strong third period, leveling the Tipos Extraliga playoff semifinals at 2-2.
Poprad was determined to use the home-ice advantage to the fullest and push on after taking Game 3. But the visitors stayed neck-and-neck and after scoring a goal each in the first two periods, the match went into the final stretch tied at 2-2.
Only 24 seconds into the third period, the league's points leader Marcel Hascak put Poprad ahead 3-2 after promptly redirecting Mike Dalhuisen's shot. The rising number of holes in Michalovce's defense allowed Michael Vandas to stretch the lead to 4-2.
In the final stretch, Michalovce had a great opportunity to cut the deficit on a 5-on-3 powerplay, emphasized by pulling the goalie, but Poprad managed to withstand the barrage of shots and even scored an empty-netter to set the final score to 5-2.
"We have achieved an important victory despite easing off during the second period. But I think we made up for it in the third. I would like to thank all our guys who are on the ice during the penalty kills. They did a fantastic job today," said Hascak in a post-game interview. Enditem