Story Summary
The Czech Extraliga moves into its third round with five fixtures starting simultaneously on Sunday at 17:00: Liberec v Kladno, Brno v Hradec Králové, Pardubice v Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice v Olomouc and Vítkovice v Litvínov. Kladno, coached by Radim Rulík, sit second after a shootout victory over Sparta; Liberec have played only once and lost on penalties to Plzeň. Defending champions Pardubice recovered from an earlier derby defeat to beat Litvínov 3:1 and will host Karlovy Vary, who matched Pardubice’s points after a 4:1 home win over Mladá Boleslav. Brno’s Kometa have endured two narrow defeats and seek their first points, while Třinec extended a perfect start with a 3:2 comeback win over Plzeň in a pre-round fixture, in which Andrej Nestrašil scored twice and assisted Miloš Roman’s winner. The third round programme closes with a rescheduled Tuesday match between Sparta and Mladá Boleslav, scheduled to start at 18:30.
Key Facts
- Five third-round Tipsport extraliga matches are due to start simultaneously on Sunday at 17:00: Liberec v Kladno, Brno v Hradec Králové, Pardubice v Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice v Olomouc and Vítkovice v Litvínov.
- The third-round programme also includes a rescheduled Tuesday fixture between Sparta and Mladá Boleslav, scheduled to start at 18:30.
- Kladno, led by new coach Radim Rulík, occupy second place in the table after beating Sparta 3:2 in a shootout.
- Liberec have played one game so far and lost to Plzeň in a shootout. They will seek their first full points return at home against Kladno.
- Brno’s Kometa sit at the foot of the table following two narrow defeats to Litvínov and Třinec and will attempt to pick up their first points against Hradec Králové.
- Hradec Králové beat Pardubice 5:3 in the opening derby, then lost 0:2 to Motor in their subsequent league match.
- Defending champions Pardubice beat Litvínov 3:1 in their most recent match and will host Karlovy Vary, who have the same number of points in the standings.
- Karlovy Vary lost their opener to Třinec but then beat Mladá Boleslav 4:1 at home.
- České Budějovice won 2:0 against Hradec Králové in their last outing and will welcome Olomouc to Budvar aréna.
- Olomouc began the campaign with a 2:5 defeat to Sparta and then edged Plzeň 3:2 after overtime.
- Vítkovice have played one match, a 3:4 defeat to Kladno, and will seek to respond against Litvínov.
- Litvínov beat Kometa 2:1 in the opening round before losing 3:1 to Pardubice. They travel to face Vítkovice on Sunday.
IHM Discussion
The third round presents contrasting storylines. Kladno’s confident start under Radim Rulík has made them an early talking point, and their shootout victory over Sparta showed they can handle a tight contest. By contrast, Kometa Brno are bottom after narrow losses to Litvínov and Třinec. Pardubice responded to their derby defeat with a 3:1 win over Litvínov, but Karlovy Vary arrive level with them on points. Třinec’s 3:2 comeback against Plzeň, with Andrej Nestrašil scoring twice and assisting Miloš Roman’s winner, adds another positive note ahead of the main slate.
Why It Matters
The round gives Kladno a chance to build on their strong start, while Kometa can move off the foot of the table with their first points. Pardubice and Karlovy Vary begin level on points, making their meeting an early test for both sides. The results will sharpen the early picture across the Extraliga standings.
Mini Q&A
Which matches make up the main Sunday slate in round three?
Five matches start simultaneously at 17:00: Liberec v Kladno, Brno v Hradec Králové, Pardubice v Karlovy Vary, České Budějovice v Olomouc and Vítkovice v Litvínov.
How have Kladno and Liberec begun the season?
Kladno, coached by Radim Rulík, are second in the table after beating Sparta 3:2 in a shootout. Liberec have played once and lost to Plzeň on penalties.
What is Kometa Brno’s situation ahead of the round?
Kometa have suffered two narrow defeats – to Litvínov and Třinec – and sit at the bottom of the table, seeking their first points against Hradec Králové.
Which recent performance stood out before the round?
Třinec staged a quick comeback to beat Plzeň 3:2; Andrej Nestrašil scored twice and assisted Miloš Roman for the winning goal.
Coach Mark Comment
Kladno’s shootout win over Sparta and Kometa’s pair of narrow defeats point to fine margins early in the season. In tight games, clean puck management and composed defending through the middle of the ice can decide whether a side turns a close contest into points.
What Comes Next
The third-round programme continues with the five simultaneous Sunday matches scheduled to start at 17:00. The round concludes with a rescheduled Tuesday fixture between Sparta and Mladá Boleslav, set to begin at 18:30.
IHM Final View
Kladno can reinforce their strong start in Liberec, while Kometa have an immediate opportunity to claim their first points. Pardubice against Karlovy Vary stands out with the teams level on points, and Třinec enter the round after a comeback win over Plzeň led by Andrej Nestrašil.