The MOL League playoffs start this week with two first round matchups, defending champions Nové Zámky will take on Újpest with last years runners up Brasov facing the new club Debrecen. The first round is a best of three series with the lower ranking team hosting the first game followed by the next to being at the higher ranked team's arena.
Nové Zámky-UTE
It could be said that both teams had surprise season this year, Újpest are in the playoffs for the first time in five years after only having two wins last year. Nové Zámky finished third after last seasons title run, however they did not have a smooth regular season after leading the standings at one point. Lubomir Hurtaj is the third coach for the team this season. These two teams faced each other in the first game of the season as Zámky won in a shootout. Nové Zámky took the series lead 5 games to 1 with two shootout wins. Jozef Mihalik from UTE finished tied for the league lead in points (60) and also lead the league in assists (41), Martin Frolik lead all Nové Zámky (48) scorers which was good for eleventh in the league.
Game 1: Tuesday 18:00 at Újpest
Game 2. Friday 18:00 at Nové Zámky
Game 3: Saturday 19:00 at Nové Zámky (if needed)
Brasov-Debreceni HK
Last years runners up are having a carbon copy of last years season as they finished in the middle of the table and backed into the playoffs, and just like last year the club is not coached by the same coaches as who they started with. Assistant coach Hakan Nygren had to travel back to Sweden because of personal reasons, head coach Jerry Andersson will be assisted by Csíkszereda head coach Christer Dreberg. Debrecen surprised people by not only having a team that could compete in the MOL League but also grabbed a playoff spot. The club managed to stay in the playoff race despite having a number of injuries, with healthy squad filled with players with playoff experience the team could not only pull off an upset in the first round but could end up in the finals. Brasov took the regular season series 4-2, Martin Saluga finished tied for fifth in the league in scoring with 52 points whereas Danil Kaskov finished twelfth with 47 one point ahead of teammate Ákos Berta.
Game 1: Tuesday 18:00 at Debrecen (DIGI Sport)
Game 2: Friday 18:00 at Brasov (DIGI Sport)
Game 3: Saturday 17:00 at Brasov (if needed)