Preview
Karpat Oulu and Sparta Prague met last year in a memorable Round of 16 match-up. After Karpat allowed only one goal in their first six games, Sparta lit the lamp four times in the first leg in Prague and took a two-goal aggregate lead to Oulu. Karpat then rallied on home ice to win, thanks to a goal by Mika Pyorala in the 120th minute of the series. Will things be similar this time around? Both teams have changed somewhat. Karpat are without some of the offensive weapons that helped them to last year's Final, but they still have some firepower up front and look as good as ever on defence and in goal. As for Sparta, their offence is still dangerous – even without top scorer Tomas Netik – but defence and goaltending have been a concern early in the season. This should be interesting, but one has to think that if they're not better defensively than they've shown so far, it will be very difficult for Sparta to get past a team still considered one of Europe's best.
Closer look: Karpat Oulu
(3-1-0-0, 11 points, 12:5, 1st in Group E)
As expected, Karpat won Group E, but although they won all four games, they were all close. They were outplayed by Vitkovice in their first game in Ostrava, but won 4-2 thanks largely to the goaltending of Jussi Rynnas in his first competitive game with the team. Two days later, Sami Aittokallio posted a 25-save shutout – his 6th in the CHL – as Karpat beat Krefeld 2-0. On home ice, it was Rynnas who shut out Vitkovice for 63 minutes until Mikko Niemela scored the game's only goal in overtime, and they wrapped it up with a 5-3 win over Krefeld. It's clear that the team's defence and goaltending is as solid as ever. They will now be tested against a Sparta team that is known for offence and, as people who followed last year will remember, posed the first real threat of the season for Karpat in last year's Round of 16.
Mikael
Ruohomaa
3+2, +4
Lasse
Kukkonen
1+1, +1
Jussi
Rynnas
96.77 %
Closer look: Sparta Prague
(2-1-0-1, 8 Points, 16:10, 2nd in Group O)
Being drawn into a group with Comarch Cracovia from Poland, it was assumed that Sparta and Farjestad Karlstad had almost a free pass to the Round of 32, and both made it easily. Sparta began by playing the first CHL game in Poland and spoiled the party with a 7-2 win, thanks to a Tomas Netik hat-trick. Up next was Farjestad on home ice, and Sparta led 1-0 after two periods but the Swedish club struck twic in the third and won 2-1. In the return engagement against Cracovia, Sparta fired 65 shots at netminder Rafal Radziszewski, but the game was tied 4-4 before a late power-play marker by Neik decided it in Sparta's favour. In their last game in Karlstad, Sparta needed a regulation win to take the group, but surrendered a last-minute equalizer. They won in overtime, but Farjestad's win over Cracovia in the last game dropped Sparta to second. While Sparta were equal to the Farjestad challenge at times, they sometimes buckled under pessure. Are they ready for the solid two-way game Karpat will now bring to them?
Lukas
Klimek
1+4, +1
Michal
Cajkovsky
1+1, -1
Tomas
Popperle
88.57 %
Top Goaltender: Goaltending might be Sparta's biggest area of concern right now. As we saw the CHL games in Prague, Sparta didn’t do so well in the goal crease. Filip Novotny got the first chance in Sparta’s net against Farjestad, but finally it was Tomas Popperle who played in the rest of the games. But Popperle didn't seem so steady in the net, even when he made the save. It happened more than once that he missed an easy shot. Especially in the game against Cracovia, it was quite apparent he wasn't ready for the season yet, and the start to the Extraliga season hasn't been great either. Goaltending is an area that Sparta will have to be much better in if they are to have a chance against Karpat.
Tomas Netik led Sparta Prague in points through the group stage of this season’s Champions Hockey League with six goals in four games. Netik was also the league’s CRAMO Top Scorer for much of the group stage, and still leads the competition in goals alone. We caught up with him follow his team’s progression to the next round, and with the Czech Extraliga season also underway.
“Our main goal was to make it to the playoffs and we did. We played two good games with Farjestad, which we lost at the end of, so the race for first spot was really close. However, we met our main goal, so it's okay for us,” said the 34-year-old, reflecting on the group stage. “For Czech clubs it's great that four of us made it through to the next round and will continue in the competition because the prestige of this tournament is still going up.”
As a founding member of the CHL, Sparta Prague have been present since the inaugural season – and enthusiasm to do well comes from all over, including the very top.
“The CHL is already greatly covered by our media and also our owner Petr Briza is one of the co-founders of the league, so it is automatically for us really prestigious,” affirms Netik. “All over Europe there are also young players given the chance to show their teams what they can do, and how they are the future. For everyone here, it is important to play as hard as we can in the CHL, and not just to go through the motions. We all buy into this philosophy and really appreciate these great games.”
Last year Netik notched only five points in his eight CHL matches, and has already surpassed that total. In the Czech league he managed 22 points (8+14) last time around over 41 games, something he is glad to have turned around already this season.
“For sure, I'm grateful that I was able to help my team with goals, because last year I was extremely unproductive and really unhappy about it!” admitted the Prague native. “I hope it will continue this way. Last season was a real extreme that I hadn’t experienced before, but I just kept believing in myself that I could score more goals again. I don’t think I changed much from last season – still training and preparing in the same way – but perhaps I’ve been hungrier for goals this season or a little more accurate in practice.”
Netik joined Sparta at the beginning of last season from Slovan Bratislava in the KHL, and joined his new team in time to face Karpat Oulu in the CHL's Round of 16. This year, he and his teammates will face them again in the Round of 32.
“They have a great team and these are going to be two top quality games ahead of us,” said Netik of Karpat, and how tough this team is to play against. “On the other hand, it really doesn’t matter who you face because, with maybe one or two exceptions, everyone still playing at this stage of the tournament are good teams, and so it depends on us and how we approach the game.”
“I’m not sure we can talk about ‘revenge’ yet, because it’s not like soccer where we play a team for the 20th time or something, but we would like to ‘repay’ Karpat for knocking us out last year for sure!” Netik concluded.
Tomas Netik celebrates scoring in his team's home game against Farjestad.
First Leg
Last year Sparta Prague had a two-goal aggregate lead after the first game on home ice, but still lost to Karpat Oulu after 120 minutes had been played. This time, their task is more difficult after the same two teams skated to a 1-1 tie at O2 Arena.
“The result was even and I think the whole game was even,” said Karpat coach Kai Suikkainen. “We came here to fight and get something from this building, because it's not an easy place to play, but we had a good fighting spirit and played a good game.”
Sparta had the best chances to score in the first period, thanks to three straight power plays and a 5-on-3 advantage for 57 seconds at one point. However, Karpat's penalty killing was steady, as was Sami Aittokallio in goal. Overall, the CHL's all-time shutout leader stopped 30 of 31 shots. At the other end, Sparta's Tomas Popperle stopped 20 of 21.
Karpat opened the scoring in the middle of an evenly-played second period on some rather shoddy defensive-zone coverage from Sparta. Miska Humaloja won a battle for the puck behind the net, then skated unopposed to the front of the net and backhanded it past Popperle – the only time the Sparta goalie was beaten on the night.
Facing the unattractive prospect of going to northern Finland next week with a deficit to make up, Sparta poured on the pressure in the third period period and they tied it in the 47th minute. Juraj Mikus's shot from the point through traffic was stopped by Aittokallio, but Brian Ihnacak was there for the rebound.
Then less than two minutes later they went to the power play when Jani Hakanpaa was called for checking to the head, and very nearly took the lead. The puck was put into the net with 10:51 to play, but after consulting with the video goal judge, goaltender interference was the verdict, and so the score remains even after 60 minutes of play.
“After the last game in Brno, where we allowed six goals against, we can be slightly satisfied,” acknowledged Sparta assistant coach Jiri Veber. “We worked on our defence a lot. Although Karpat scored once, at least it wasn’t a high number. So it’s good, positive. We watched a video of their last game in the Finnish Liiga, so we knew what to expect, and they played exactly like that. Strong defensively, sometimes without any fore-checking, defending well in the neutral zone. And we were ready for that.”
“Of course, they had a good third period when they were pushing for the equalizer, but that's what happens when one team is coming from behind,” Suikkainen continued. “Whoever wins the next game now will go forward.”
Second Leg
Sparta Prague exacted revenge of the team that knocked them out of the CHL playoffs in heartbreaking fashion last year with a dramatic victory of their own. After 60 scoreless minutes in Oulu – and just one goal each after 120 minutes counting last week in Prague – Miroslav Forman scored in overtime on a nice pass from Petr Vrana to eliminate Karpat Oulu and send Sparta into the Round of 16.
"It feels good to pay back the last year. I wasn't here then but many players were," Vrana said after the game. "It was very tight. We played 1-1 at home. It was very careful play from both sides. Maybe they were sitting back a little bit but we couldn't score a goal and went to overtime. Very tight series."
"I think it was a really tactical game – a really tough game," said Sparta coach Jiri Kalous. "Both teams were waiting for mistakes and in overtime we were lucky, and that's why we're going on."
Sparta had a decided territorial edge in the first half of the opening period, with an early 7-2 shots advantage. Most of the shots came from the outside and Sami Aittokallio didn't have too much difficulty. The best chances of the first period came on a Karpat power play late in the period – Aittokallio with a big save on a partial shorthanded breakaway, and then Tomas Popperle robbing Lasse Kukkonen on a one-timer.
The second period settled into a defensive rhythm, but again the most dangerous chances happened on Karpat's power play – Sparta's Lukas Cingel hit the goalpost shorthanded, and just after the penalty ended Popperle came up with a huge glove save.
Sparta had a few chances on a power play early in the third period, and then the teams played strong defensively, both knowing that the game's first goal might be the last. In 3-on-3 overtime, both goalies came up big again – Popperle on a tricky shot by Miska Humaloja and Aittokallio on a breakaway by Dominik Uher. Neary halfway through the 10-minute frame, Sparta came back in 2-on-1 and Vrana fed Forman, who re-directed it in for the game's only goal.
Vrana described the winning goal: "They went 3-on-2 to our end but our defence did a good job. Me and Forman got a 2-on-1 from there. I saw the defenceman laying down to block the pass so I held it a little longer to open up a pass in front of the goalie. It was a little bit lucky goal I guess but it counts."
“Both teams were great defensively,” acknowledged Karpat coach Kai Suikkanen. “That was our goal, to play well defensively, but it was not our goal to not score any goals. Our offensive game was the problem. I’ve never seen a team win a hockey game without scoring a goal. It was a very, very tight game. They had chances, we had great chances, especially in the second period. We got one 3-on-0 situation, one 2-on-0 situation, and we couldn’t score. So, if you don’t score then the other team usually scores. Too bad, but… they were little bit better, so they earned it. I wish them all the best for the future.”
Sparta's next opponent in the Round of 16 will be HV71 Jonkoping. When informed of that, Kalous responded, "Every team in the CHL is really good, so they won't be easy to play against, but we hope to win."
“Our main goal was to make it to the playoffs and we did. We played two good games with Farjestad, which we lost at the end of, so the race for first spot was really close. However, we met our main goal, so it's okay for us,” said the 34-year-old, reflecting on the group stage. “For Czech clubs it's great that four of us made it through to the next round and will continue in the competition because the prestige of this tournament is still going up.”
As a founding member of the CHL, Sparta Prague have been present since the inaugural season – and enthusiasm to do well comes from all over, including the very top.
“The CHL is already greatly covered by our media and also our owner Petr Briza is one of the co-founders of the league, so it is automatically for us really prestigious,” affirms Netik. “All over Europe there are also young players given the chance to show their teams what they can do, and how they are the future. For everyone here, it is important to play as hard as we can in the CHL, and not just to go through the motions. We all buy into this philosophy and really appreciate these great games.”
Last year Netik notched only five points in his eight CHL matches, and has already surpassed that total. In the Czech league he managed 22 points (8+14) last time around over 41 games, something he is glad to have turned around already this season.
“For sure, I'm grateful that I was able to help my team with goals, because last year I was extremely unproductive and really unhappy about it!” admitted the Prague native. “I hope it will continue this way. Last season was a real extreme that I hadn’t experienced before, but I just kept believing in myself that I could score more goals again. I don’t think I changed much from last season – still training and preparing in the same way – but perhaps I’ve been hungrier for goals this season or a little more accurate in practice.”
Netik joined Sparta at the beginning of last season from Slovan Bratislava in the KHL, and joined his new team in time to face Karpat Oulu in the CHL's Round of 16. This year, he and his teammates will face them again in the Round of 32.
“They have a great team and these are going to be two top quality games ahead of us,” said Netik of Karpat, and how tough this team is to play against. “On the other hand, it really doesn’t matter who you face because, with maybe one or two exceptions, everyone still playing at this stage of the tournament are good teams, and so it depends on us and how we approach the game.”
“I’m not sure we can talk about ‘revenge’ yet, because it’s not like soccer where we play a team for the 20th time or something, but we would like to ‘repay’ Karpat for knocking us out last year for sure!” Netik concluded.
Tomas Netik celebrates scoring in his team's home game against Farjestad.
First Leg
Last year Sparta Prague had a two-goal aggregate lead after the first game on home ice, but still lost to Karpat Oulu after 120 minutes had been played. This time, their task is more difficult after the same two teams skated to a 1-1 tie at O2 Arena.
“The result was even and I think the whole game was even,” said Karpat coach Kai Suikkainen. “We came here to fight and get something from this building, because it's not an easy place to play, but we had a good fighting spirit and played a good game.”
Sparta had the best chances to score in the first period, thanks to three straight power plays and a 5-on-3 advantage for 57 seconds at one point. However, Karpat's penalty killing was steady, as was Sami Aittokallio in goal. Overall, the CHL's all-time shutout leader stopped 30 of 31 shots. At the other end, Sparta's Tomas Popperle stopped 20 of 21.
Karpat opened the scoring in the middle of an evenly-played second period on some rather shoddy defensive-zone coverage from Sparta. Miska Humaloja won a battle for the puck behind the net, then skated unopposed to the front of the net and backhanded it past Popperle – the only time the Sparta goalie was beaten on the night.
Facing the unattractive prospect of going to northern Finland next week with a deficit to make up, Sparta poured on the pressure in the third period period and they tied it in the 47th minute. Juraj Mikus's shot from the point through traffic was stopped by Aittokallio, but Brian Ihnacak was there for the rebound.
Then less than two minutes later they went to the power play when Jani Hakanpaa was called for checking to the head, and very nearly took the lead. The puck was put into the net with 10:51 to play, but after consulting with the video goal judge, goaltender interference was the verdict, and so the score remains even after 60 minutes of play.
“After the last game in Brno, where we allowed six goals against, we can be slightly satisfied,” acknowledged Sparta assistant coach Jiri Veber. “We worked on our defence a lot. Although Karpat scored once, at least it wasn’t a high number. So it’s good, positive. We watched a video of their last game in the Finnish Liiga, so we knew what to expect, and they played exactly like that. Strong defensively, sometimes without any fore-checking, defending well in the neutral zone. And we were ready for that.”
“Of course, they had a good third period when they were pushing for the equalizer, but that's what happens when one team is coming from behind,” Suikkainen continued. “Whoever wins the next game now will go forward.”
Second Leg
Sparta Prague exacted revenge of the team that knocked them out of the CHL playoffs in heartbreaking fashion last year with a dramatic victory of their own. After 60 scoreless minutes in Oulu – and just one goal each after 120 minutes counting last week in Prague – Miroslav Forman scored in overtime on a nice pass from Petr Vrana to eliminate Karpat Oulu and send Sparta into the Round of 16.
"It feels good to pay back the last year. I wasn't here then but many players were," Vrana said after the game. "It was very tight. We played 1-1 at home. It was very careful play from both sides. Maybe they were sitting back a little bit but we couldn't score a goal and went to overtime. Very tight series."
"I think it was a really tactical game – a really tough game," said Sparta coach Jiri Kalous. "Both teams were waiting for mistakes and in overtime we were lucky, and that's why we're going on."
Sparta had a decided territorial edge in the first half of the opening period, with an early 7-2 shots advantage. Most of the shots came from the outside and Sami Aittokallio didn't have too much difficulty. The best chances of the first period came on a Karpat power play late in the period – Aittokallio with a big save on a partial shorthanded breakaway, and then Tomas Popperle robbing Lasse Kukkonen on a one-timer.
The second period settled into a defensive rhythm, but again the most dangerous chances happened on Karpat's power play – Sparta's Lukas Cingel hit the goalpost shorthanded, and just after the penalty ended Popperle came up with a huge glove save.
Sparta had a few chances on a power play early in the third period, and then the teams played strong defensively, both knowing that the game's first goal might be the last. In 3-on-3 overtime, both goalies came up big again – Popperle on a tricky shot by Miska Humaloja and Aittokallio on a breakaway by Dominik Uher. Neary halfway through the 10-minute frame, Sparta came back in 2-on-1 and Vrana fed Forman, who re-directed it in for the game's only goal.
Vrana described the winning goal: "They went 3-on-2 to our end but our defence did a good job. Me and Forman got a 2-on-1 from there. I saw the defenceman laying down to block the pass so I held it a little longer to open up a pass in front of the goalie. It was a little bit lucky goal I guess but it counts."
“Both teams were great defensively,” acknowledged Karpat coach Kai Suikkanen. “That was our goal, to play well defensively, but it was not our goal to not score any goals. Our offensive game was the problem. I’ve never seen a team win a hockey game without scoring a goal. It was a very, very tight game. They had chances, we had great chances, especially in the second period. We got one 3-on-0 situation, one 2-on-0 situation, and we couldn’t score. So, if you don’t score then the other team usually scores. Too bad, but… they were little bit better, so they earned it. I wish them all the best for the future.”
Sparta's next opponent in the Round of 16 will be HV71 Jonkoping. When informed of that, Kalous responded, "Every team in the CHL is really good, so they won't be easy to play against, but we hope to win."
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