For fan of the MOL League the first round could not have gone better with both first round series going to the third game.
Nové Zámky vs Újpest
For the first time in five years UTE was back in the playoffs and the fans came out to to see what the purple and white can does, the atnopshoere was truly one for the playoffs. This visiting Nové Zámky jumped out to an early two goal lead and was up three zero in the first period. Before the period was out UTE had to go to backup goalie József Pleszkán as Ales Sila injured himself. Pleszkán shut the door on NZ for the rest of the game as UTE was able to get back into the game and tie it up when Jussi Tapio but the puck in the back of the net. In overtime Zámky kept on taking penalties but UTE was not able to score on any of their power plays. At 14:27 into the overtime period Eric Weissmann took a soft shot from just inside the blueline that made it through the crowd and into the back of the net.
In game two Újpest knew with a loss their MOL League season was over, Pleszkán got the start for UTE meanwhile on the other side some of the Nové Zámky players were out with some sort of illness. UTE came out strong as Victor Lindgren gave UTE the early 1-0 lead with rocket from the blue line, the score remained 1-0 through the second period into the third as Karol Csényi and Tapio scored to make it 3-0, Juraj Faith scored in the closing minutes to make it 3-1.
Because of the illness Nové Zámky brought back Marek Uram on loan, Nové Zámky came out to play for game three as took a 1-0 lead on a Weissmann goal in the first period and were up 3-0 going into the third period thanks to a brace from Martin Frolik. After two quick goals in the third and with the score 5-0 Pleszkán was pulled for Oliver Ágoston, UTE managed to score a power play goal but in the end it was too late as Nové Zámky advanced to the semi finals to take on DAB.Docler
Brasov-Debrecen
Game was real goalie battle as Savva Borodin faced off against Patrik Polc, Balázs Ladányi and Norbert Dancsfalvi were able to get past Polc. Just past the midway point of the game Richard Filip beat Borodin for a nice goal to make it 2-1 but neither goalie let in a goal the rest of the way.
In game two Brasov full took advantage of the home ice as they were able to put five past the Debrecen goal line. Levente Zsók and Martin Saluga scored in the opening minutes of the game, with Saluga scoring his second of the game and Juha Hietamaki also lighting the lamp in the second period. For the third period Coach Muhin sent out Zoltán László Tőke in place of Borodin to defend the Debrecen net, Csanád Fodor made it 5-0 with Saluga getting the assist.
With the series tied up and the winner advancing this was an exciting back and for match, the game wasn’t even ten minutes old when Brasov had a 2-1 lead. The second period held all the action as Debrecen tied the game up at 2-2 and later 3-3 but Brasov was abel to pull away in the period with Csanád Virág scoring to make it 5-3 for Brasov, with no goals being scored in the third period this was all that the home team needed to advance to the next round.