At the last minute, the Knights made a lineup change. The injured Jakub Klepiš was replaced in the attack by the playing owner Jaromír Jágr, who jumped into the match exactly following 68 days. He made his first appearance following his 52nd birthday and, at the age of 52 and 63, became the oldest player ever to play in a competitive game, surpassing the legendary Gordie Howe.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Immediately following his return, Jaromír Jágr shone with a goal and an assist, he also had other chances and won the man of the match award. Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
In addition, Jágr opened the scoring in the 2nd minute during his first substitution! In front of the goal, he ran onto an excellent pass from Strnada, simply dribbled the puck into the half-empty cage and scored his first goal since February 26 last year.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 1:0 (2. Jágr) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
In the 9th minute, Kladno already led by two goals. Eduards Tralmaks circled the goal and sent the puck into the fire with a backhand, following which the puck unfortunately for the visitors bounced off Rob’s skate and into the net.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 2:0 (9. Tralmaks) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
However, Vsetín subsequently punished Ticháček’s offense and used the power play following only 11 seconds. Defender Jakub Teper received a charge on the left side and swept the cobwebs in the far upper corner of Brízgal’s goal with a wonderful cannonball. However, Vít Jonák was still gently rolling the puck, who was thus designated as the goal scorer.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 2:1 (10. Jonák) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
A few seconds later, the Wallachians might even equalize. A lone Adam Hořanský got to the goal from close range, but Adam Brízgala made a sensational save with the catcher and literally robbed the guests of the joy of a goal.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín, home team Brízgal caught Hořanského fantasticallyVideo: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
Just fifteen seconds before the first siren, Středočesi took back the two-goal lead. Strnad solved the three-on-three action excellently, setting up a firing position for Antonín Melka, who from the circle aimed exactly into the upper corner of Romančík’s goal.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 3:1 (20. Melka) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
And as the Knights ended the first period, they entered the second as well. After only a minute of play, Tralmaks challenged the lonely Radek Smoleňák with a successful backhand pass, who laid himself down for a shot and increased the score to 4:1.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 4:1 (22. Smoleňák) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
Another minute later, the Kladens struck the fifth blow. And once more, this time Jágr was assisting, who started the action in the middle zone, the puck reached Melko through Strnad and he pushed the puck past the concrete of the helpless Romančík from close range.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno – Vsetín 5:1 (23. Melka) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
The visitors gave hope in the 27th minute, when they once more took advantage of the numerical advantage in a flash, this time following 17 seconds. And once more there was defender Jakub Teper, whose cannonball from the left circle ended up in the net. However, Teper missed a goal once more, as Pavel Klhůfek gently dribbled the puck in.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 5:2 (27. Klhůfek) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
However, the Wallachians’ chase was slowed down by a foul by Vít Jonák, who elbowed quarterback Smoleňák in the head, and the referees, following reviewing the video, awarded him a five-minute penalty until the end of the game.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín, visiting Jonák was sent off until the end of the match following a tackle on SmoleňákVideo: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
They took advantage of the long home power play. Martin Procházka played with the puck on the left circle and then sent it with a quick wrist shot to Romančík, who dropped it to the near post and into the net.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 6:2 (34th M. Procházka) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
The numerical advantage of the Knights continued and the home team prevailed in it once more. Jarůšek was looking for Jágr in front of the goal, who missed, but the puck ended up with the free Martin Procházka, who made no mistake once more.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín 7:2 (37th M. Procházka) Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
In the third period, the game was just finishing up. The funny moment occurred in the 50th minute, when Robin Staněk from Vsetín, trying to put on a bodysuit for Slováček, fell over the blocking to the Kladno substitute, which was appreciated by the home fans with loud applause.
Log in and watch exclusive videos from the Tipsport extraliga
Kladno–Vsetín, Vsetín’s Staněk finished on the home substitution Video: Tipsport Extraliga / BPA
Another goal was not scored and Jaromír Jágr accepted the award for the best player with a big smile following the game. His Kladno won 7:2, to which the playing owner contributed with a goal and an assist, and he leads 2:0 in the playoffs.
Jaromír Jágr is crazy, says hockey representative Adam Kubík regarding the legend’s return to the iceVideo: Sport.cz
Playoff for participation in the extra league – second matchRytíri Kladno–VHK Robe Vsetín 7:2 (3:1, 4:1, 0:0)Goals and assists: 2. Jágr (J. Strnad), 9. Tralmaks (Filip), 20. Melka (J. Strnad, Ticháček), 22. Smoleňák (Tralmaks, Sideroff), 23. Melka (J. Strnad, Jágr) , 34. M. Procházka (Slováček), 37. M. Procházka (Jarůšek) – 10. Jonák (Teper, Š. Jenáček), 27. Klhůfek (Teper, Š. Jenáček). Referees: Vrba, Šindel – Brejcha, Špůr. Exclusion: 10:7, plus Jonák (Vsetín) 5 min. and until the end of the match. Usage: 2:2. Spectators. 5200 (sold out). Series status: 2:0. Kladno: Brízgala – Ticháček, T. Hejda, Babka, Slováček, Martenet, Veber – M. Procházka, Filip, Jarůšek – Tralmaks, Sideroff, Smoleňák – Kusý, Pytlík, Frolík – Jágr, Melka, J Bunting. Coach: O. Vejvoda Jr. Vsetín: P. Romančík – Š. Jenáček, Hryciow, Teper, Staněk, Larsen, Ondračka, Kojo – Rob, Klhůfek, Jonák – Hrňa, M. Kratochvil, Hořanský – Š. Bláha, Matějček, Holec – Zabusovs, Kern, O. Machala. Coach: Weintritt.
