In a match-up between two teams that lost their opening Champions Hockey League games this season, HC Pilsen defeated GKS Tychy 2-1. Pilsen outshot the Polish champions 37-18, but Czech-born Tychy goalie Tomáš Fučík was brilliant. In addition, Tychy players blocked 20 Pilsen shot attempts.

Pilsen outshot Tychy 10-1 over the first 10 minutes, but on just their second shot on goal, Tychy opened the scoring. Off the rush, Henri Knuutinen’s shot from just inside the blueline found room between the pads of Jan Růžička at 10:48.

Pilsen finally tied it on the powerplay. They came up empty on their first two, but on their third man advantage just past the game’s midpoint, the home team put enormous pressure on Fučík’s net. Finally, Danny Katic took a pass from Christophe Lalancette behind the net, and he pulled the puck in front and backhanded it just inside the near post.

With the Tychy penalty not cancelled by the goal, Pilsen nearly took the lead on the same powerplay but Fučík and his penalty-killers would not yield. Then late in the period, it was nearly Tychy going back in front but Mateusz Bryk’s shot hit the crossbar.

The Pilsen attack continued in waves in the third period and finally, with 8:36 to play, they took the lead. Captain Jakub Jeřábek carried the puck into the Tychy zone and passed to a streaking Ondřej Rohlík, who picked the far side under Fučík’s glove.

This forced Tychy to try to launch an attack for the first time in the game, but they were unable to generate much.