HK Poprad turns table around with third consecutive victory in Slovak ice hockey

BRATISLAVA - After winning both home games, HK Poprad managed to keep its winning streak going on the ice of HK Dukla Michalovce and take a 3-2 lead in the semifinal series of the Slovak Tipos Extraliga semifinals.

Poprad triumphed 3-2 in overtime on Thursday and is now only a single victory away from advancing into the finals against HKM Zvolen.

With both Michalovce and Poprad winning their respective home games, Game 5 was expected to end in favor of Michalovce. The home team's Canadian forward Christophe Lalancette confirmed the expectations by scoring the game opener in the first period after an individual breakout.

Poprad's opportunity to level the playing field came in the middle of the second period when the visitors were given a 5-on-3 opportunity and David Skokan capitalized on the powerplay. Six minutes later, Skokan scored his second of the night and gifted Poprad the lead for the first time, 2-1.

Michalovce increased its effort in the final period and even had two powerplays to take advantage of, but it was the home team's Finnish forward Antti Erkinjuntti who tied the game 12 minutes into the final period sending the match into overtime at 2-2.

Michaovce did not succeed in taking the momentum over into OT and allowed Poprad's Canadian forward James Livingston to get ahold of a rebound puck and score the game-winner two minutes in on his third playoff goal of the season.