Extraliga· Season 2025
HK Nitra opened the Tipsport Liga 2025/26 final with a 6-2 home win over HC Slovan Bratislava, taking a 1-0 series lead after a four-goal third period.
Match Videos
Player Ratings
1.0 – 10.0Jakub Lacka
Two goals (21st and 49th minutes). Scored the lead-changer in the second and the dagger in the third. Player of the game.
Robby Jackson
Power-play goal at 51:00 (Buček, Paulovič) that ended Janus's night and the contest.
Stuart Čederle
Two assists on both Lacka goals — the centerpiece of Nitra's most productive line.
Samuel Takáč
Scored the 2-2 equalizer at 30:00 from Varga's pass. One of only two Slovan markers in a game where the visitors couldn't buy a third-period goal.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryNitra Strikes First in the Slovak Final With a Four-Goal Third Period
HK Nitra opened the Tipsport Liga 2025/26 final at home with a 6-2 win over HC Slovan Bratislava, taking a 1-0 series lead in the best-of-seven. After two evenly traded periods, the hosts scored four times in the final twenty minutes to put the game and the series opener away.
HK Nitra – HC Slovan Bratislava 6-2 (1-1, 1-1, 4-0)
Goals: 17 Passolt (Lawrence, Osburn), 21 Lacka (Čederle, Vitaloš), 42 Hrnka (PP), 49 Lacka (Čederle, Okolicány), 50 Turanský (Chrenko, Graham), 51 Jackson (Buček, Paulovič, PP) – 16 O'Connor (Pecararo, Královič), 30 Takáč (Varga).
Goalies: Patrikainen – Janus (replaced by Andrisík at 51:00). Penalties: 5-8 minors plus Kováč & Královič 5+GM each. Power plays: 2-0, shorthanded: 0-0. Attendance: 3,600 (sold out).
/series: 1-0/
O'Connor strikes, Passolt answers
Slovan, the regular-season runner-up, came in looking to steal an opener. Ryan O'Connor finished a tic-tac with Pecararo and Královič at 16:00 for 1-0. The lead lasted barely a minute: Jaroslav Passolt, with Lawrence and Osburn assisting, equalized at 17:00.
Trading goals in the middle
Jakub Lacka extended for 2-1 at 21:00 with Čederle and Vitaloš helpers. Samuel Takáč pulled Slovan even at 30:00 from Varga's setup. The teams went to the second intermission tied 2-2 with the series wide open.
Four in nine: Nitra's third period
The decisive stretch arrived in the final period. Tomáš Hrnka cashed a power play at 42:00 for 3-2, Lacka struck again at 49:00 (Čederle, Okolicány), Artur Turanský made it 5-2 at 50:00 (Chrenko, Graham) and Robby Jackson rounded out the scoring at 51:00 on the power play (Buček, Paulovič). Slovan switched goalies after the fifth goal, but the contest was over.
What it means
Nitra confirmed favorite status and showed offensive depth that Slovan must contain to keep the series competitive. The visitors' five minor penalties — including 5+game-misconducts to Kováč and Královič — gave Nitra power-play looks they buried. Game 2 looms in less than 24 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Game 1 of the Slovak Extraliga final?
HK Nitra defeated HC Slovan Bratislava 6-2 (1-1, 1-1, 4-0) on 19 April 2026 in Nitra.
What is the series score after Game 1?
Nitra leads the best-of-seven 1-0. Game 2 is on 20 April 2026, again in Nitra.
Who scored for Nitra?
Jaroslav Passolt (17:00), Jakub Lacka (21:00, 49:00), Tomáš Hrnka (42:00 PP), Artur Turanský (50:00), Robby Jackson (51:00 PP).
Who scored for Slovan Bratislava?
Ryan O'Connor (16:00, assists Pecararo, Královič) and Samuel Takáč (30:00, assist Varga).
Why did Nitra win Game 1 in the third period?
After two even periods (1-1, 1-1), Nitra produced four goals in a span of nine minutes (42:00 – 51:00) to break the game open and force a goalie change for Slovan.
When and where is Game 2?
Game 2 is on 20 April 2026 at the Nitra arena. Both opening games of the final are at Nitra's home rink.
Match Events
Cross-checking
High sticking
T. Kralovic
Z. Osburn
M. Vitalos
Interference
High sticking
Roughing
Roughing
High sticking
Power-play
Interference
D. Okolicany
J. Graham
Charging
Roughing
Roughing
M. Paulovic
Cross-checking
Slashing
Tripping
Fighting
Fighting
Match Summary
Nitra defeated Slovan Bratislava 6:2. The match was played in Extraliga 2025. Goals were scored by R. O'Connor 15′, J. Passolt 16′, J. Lacka, S. Takac 9′, T. Hrnka 1′, J. Lacka 8′, A. Turansky 9′, R. Jackson 10′. Score by period: P1: 1–1, P2: 1–1, P3: 4–0.
Match Context
Tipsport Liga 2025/26 — playoff final, Game 1 of 7
Game 1 of the Slovak Extraliga (Tipsport Liga) playoff final. Best-of-seven series. Nitra, the regular-season champion (112 points), opens at home; Slovan finished second (102 points).
Pre-Match Analysis
Nitra Form
Nitra cruised through the regular season as the 112-point league leader and reached the final with momentum.
Slovan Bratislava Form
Slovan finished the regular season second on 102 points and advanced through a tough semifinal.
Head to Head
Slovak Extraliga finals between these two clubs have historically been decided by third-period scoring.
Match Report
Slovan struck first at 16:00 — Ryan O'Connor finished a Pecararo–Královič combination for 1-0. Nitra answered at 17:00 with Jaroslav Passolt (Lawrence, Osburn) for 1-1. The second period brought another trade: Jakub Lacka put Nitra ahead 2-1 at 21:00 (Čederle, Vitaloš), but Samuel Takáč equalized at 30:00 with a Varga assist. The third period belonged entirely to the home side. Tomáš Hrnka scored on the power play at 42:00 to make it 3-2, Lacka added his second at 49:00 (Čederle, Okolicány), Artur Turanský made it 5-2 at 50:00 (Chrenko, Graham) and Robby Jackson sealed a 6-2 final at 51:00 with a power-play tally (Buček, Paulovič). Slovan replaced goalie Janus with Andrisík at 51:00, but the damage was done. Nitra led the shot count throughout the third period.
Turning Point
Nitra's four-goal third period (42:00 – 51:00). After two tied periods, the hosts scored four times in nine minutes to break the game open.
Nitra justifies its regular-season-best billing and strikes first in the series. The third-period explosion underlined Nitra's offensive depth and showed Slovan that any small lead can evaporate quickly if the hosts find their rhythm.
Rivalry since 2021
Nitra vs Slovan Bratislava Head to Head Results· 50
Recent Meetings
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 15 May 2026