RAHL2 – Round 5: HK Petržalka on top for the first time, three teams level on seven points

After five rounds there is no clear favorite to speak of in RAHL2. A fourth team has already taken a turn at the top of the standings: after TJ Družstevník Petržalka, Alpha Hockey Team and Uličníci, the new leader is HK Petržalka. A 2:0 win over Alpha Hockey Team put them there. The result was decided in the opening three minutes – Matúš Kocún scored a minute into the game, and shortly afterwards Martin Zelenák added a second goal. There were no more goals in the game.

TJ Družstevník Petržalka beat HC Senec 5:1. They led 2:0 after the first half, with both goals scored by Ondro Lengyel. In the second half Jakub Škopek, Peter Tisovský and Ladislav Nyergeš added a goal apiece, while Matej Pokryvka scored for Senec.

Hockey for all beat Lions 3:1. Tomáš Šimek opened the scoring as early as the 2nd minute, Lions tied it through Marek Šarudy, but in the second half Adam Husár and Jaromir Čech decided it. Šimek and Čech each picked up two points (1+1).

The most goals came in the last game of the day. Uličníci went in as the leader and tied last-place Trnava Beast 4:4. The visitors turned the score from 0:1 to 2:1, Uličníci from 1:2 to 3:2, and Trnava once more to 4:3 in their favor – with three of those goals coming in a span of less than a minute at the start of the second half. The final score was set in the 28th minute by Jozef Kapel with his second goal. Kapel and Richard Tartaľ of Trnava both finished with a 2+1 line. Trnava Beast earned their first point of the season, and the tie cost Uličníci first place.

HK Petržalka celebrate a goal in the game against Lions (Round 3). Photo: RAHL

How the standings have developed. Four different leaders in five rounds says it all. TJ Družstevník Petržalka led after the first round, Alpha Hockey Team after the second, Družstevník again after the third, Uličníci after the fourth, and now HK Petržalka. The top three teams are level on 7 points and goal difference decides their order; fourth-place Hockey for all are a single point back.

The most striking climb belongs to HK Petržalka. They started the season with a 2:3 loss to HC Senec and were seventh after the second round. They have not lost since: a 2:2 tie with Družstevník was followed by wins of 5:0, 10:1 and 2:0. In their last three games their goal difference is 17:1, and overall they have both the best offense (21 goals) and the best defense in the league (6 goals against).

Heading in the opposite direction are Alpha Hockey Team. After two rounds they led the standings with full points and a 10:5 goal difference, but in the next three games they scored only two goals, earned a single point and dropped to fifth place. With six goals in five games, HC Senec have the weakest offense in the competition and are sixth after two straight losses.

Uličníci are proof of how evenly matched the league is: they have seven points and yet a goal difference of 15:15. Hockey for all have won three of four games since their opening loss and are fourth. At the bottom of the standings remain Trnava Beast with 30 goals against, but with their tie against the leader they showed they know how to take points.

HC Senec – Alpha Hockey Team (Round 3). Photo: RAHL

The scoring race is led by Tomáš Šimek of Hockey for all with 8 points (4+4). One point back is Tomáš Jevčik of HK Petržalka (3+4), who has played only four games. Christian Badalov (Uličníci), Jaromir Čech (Hockey for all) and Matúš Kocún (HK Petržalka) have 6 points each. The top goal scorers, with four goals, are Tomáš Šimek, Martin Fila (TJ Družstevník Petržalka) and Jiří Cibulya (HK Petržalka).

Round 6 – Sunday, 11 October:
8:30 Hockey for all – Alpha Hockey Team
9:45 HK Petržalka – Uličníci
11:00 Trnava Beast – HC Senec
12:15 TJ Družstevník Petržalka – Lions

The marquee game of the round is the matchup of first against third: HK Petržalka and Uličníci both have 7 points. TJ Družstevník Petržalka play second-to-last Lions and could return to the top if the leader slips up.