With four goals in the third period, HC Sparta Prague achieved the incredible and secured a 6-4 (7-6 overall) victory over the Växjö Lakers, advancing to the semifinals of the Champions Hockey League. Two late goals brought the eagerly celebrated equaliser, and an overtime goal from Jani Lajunen secured the away win for the Prague team, sending them into the CHL semifinals.
The game started as badly as possible for Prague: Victor Stjernborg gave the Swedes an early lead when he converted a rebound, putting Växjö 1-0 (3-1 overall) ahead – just over two minutes into the first period. Near the end of the first period, the hosts extended their lead when Elias Rosén scored for the second time. A deflected puck landed at the defender’s feet, and he controlled it in the slot before firing it into the far corner, past Kovář’s stick. After the first period, Växjö led 2-0 (4-1 overall).
Prague eventually fought their way back into the game when Lajunen scored short-handed, narrowing the gap to 2-1 (4-2 overall). A failed pass at the blue line allowed Lajunen to intercept the puck in the neutral zone, fighting off two defenders before slipping the puck through the legs of goalie Åhman.
But just over two minutes later, the Swedes extended their lead once more by three goals, as Dylan McLaughlin made a precise cross-ice pass to Manuel Ågren, who easily slid the puck into the empty net, sending Växjö 3-1 (5-2 overall) into the final break.
In the third period, Prague came back stronger, quickly scoring two goals to put Växjö under pressure. Roman Horák was the first to score, deflecting a shot from the blue line near the goalie into the net. Just a minute later, Jakub Krejčík brought his team within a goal, scoring his first of the tournament.
Despite Prague’s efforts, it was the Swedish team that scored next, as Växjö’s captain Joel Persson fired a shot from the left circle to make it 4-3 (6-4 overall). Dennis Rasmussen won the face-off and passed the puck to Persson, who neatly fired it over Kovář’s glove and into the net.
Then began Sparta’s comeback of the year: With two and a half minutes left, they pulled their goalie and scored two goals to level the aggregate at 6-6. Michal Moravčík redirected the puck into the Swedish net, bringing his team within a goal, before Michal Řepík completed the comeback by slotting the puck past Åhman into the net.
In the ensuing 3-on-3 overtime, Sparta’s Jani Lajunen scored his second goal of the night, sealing Prague’s comeback and the highly celebrated CHL semifinal spot, while Växjö exited the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year.
In the semifinals, Prague will now face Färjestad BK from Sweden, who knocked out Red Bull Salzburg. The other all-Swiss semifinal will see current CHL titleholders Genève-Servette take on the ZSC Lions from Zurich.
