For the first time in the team's history Debrecen is hosting a semifinal game, Savva Borodin started in net, Norbert Hári and Vladislav Troshin were sitting out a suspension. On the other side Dávid Gyenes was starting in net with Jesse Dudás missing because of a suspension.
Debrecen started the game off with two quick penalties which gave DVTK a 5 on 3, Jon Booras made it 1-0 on a back door tap on, on the ensuing simple power play took a wrist shot from the blueline that made it through traffic. Debrecen managed to hold the game at 2-0 as Borodin made a number of great saves.
After a scoreless second period DVTK found their third goal when Balázs Somogyi tapped home a rebound. Debrecen managed to end Gyenes’ shutout minutes later as a shot bounced off of Dániel Godó and in. On the ensuing shift Justin Cseter skated in on a breakaway and slipped the puck past Vay. DVTK started to pull away when László Ritó jumped on a turnover, his first shot was saved but he put his own rebound in to make it 5-1.
Jevgenyi Muhin: We played much better than the first two games, the opponent took advantage of all of our mistakes, DVTK is the best team in the league with great players and great forward lines, we will try to win on Tuesday.
Jason Morgan: Debrecen started out a lot more aggressive than the game before, the game was pretty balanced at the start. Thanks to two power play goals we got out of the first period with a 2-0 lead. We held onto the lead in the second period and padded the lead in the third.
Fehérvár AV19-MAC Budapest 5-4 OT
Alba Volán really needed a win, Krisztián Szabó was back in the lineup with Miklós Rajna getting the start in net. MAC had Bence Bálizs in net and Jeff Hayes was back from suspension.
The first period started much like game two with the first goal not being scored until the first power play of the game when Tomas Klempa took a pass from behind the end and put it home from the crease. During the action Miklós Rajna had some problem with his equipment and Janis Kalnins had to come in for Rajna. Just as it looked like the score would stay 1-0, István Mestyán took a pass from Richárd Tóth at the top of the left faceoff circle and ripped it past Rajna who had no chance to make the save.
Just past the midway point of the game after they killed a penalty on the on the next rush Ian McDonald fed Mestyán the puck who skated down the slot, did a deke and flipped the puck past Rajna. Later in the period Tamás Láday got five minutes for a slash, MAC capitalized on the ensuing penalty as Krisztián Nagy took a tape to tape pass and flipped it home on the far post. Fehérvár got on the scoreboard late in the period as Péter Vincze skated in from the right faceoff circle, went to his backhand and flipped the puck past Bálizs. In the last minute of play in the second period Volán cut the deficit to two as Mitch Holmberg made pass from the slot down low that Preston Shupe stuffed in.
In the third period Tihamér Becze circled behind the MAC net, centered a pass to Devon Krogh who one timed the puck from the slot blocker side to make it a one goal game. With under two minutes left Fehérvár called timeout and pulled the goalie for the extra attacker. The move paid off as Devon Krogh sent a shot on net from the left faceoff circle to complete the comeback.
In overtime István Bartalis skated down and flipped the puck past Bálizs for the OT winner.
Tyler Dietrich: It was a wild one, the series has been a tight one, MAC was up 4-0 we had every reason to just pack it in, but the boys showed resilience and they fought back. It is just one game but it was a great boost to pull everyone to get back at it tomorrow.
Gergely Majoross: It was a high level, fast paced game that was enjoyable. We have some mistakes that we need to work out but for us we knew we had to take at least one game on the road we were up 4-0 and we will be taking the harder road tomorrow.