Roster Rundown
HK Vlci Zilina's lineup is buzzing with talent, not least from Connor LaCouvee guarding the net. His save percentage this season stands at a solid 92.1%, and he's been a rock between the pipes. Up front, Brenden Miller's been a key playmaker, racking up 25 assists—this guy's got vision. Hunter Fejes, with his knack for finding the net, has buried 18 goals so far. Then there's Andrej Kosaristan, who's locked down the blue line, delivering bone-crushing hits and blocking shots like a wall. Missing from action, though, are Nick Jones and Erik Rajnoha, the latter nursing a wrist injury.
HK Nitra's got its own powerhouses. Samuel Bucek has been electric, lighting the lamp 22 times this season. Sahir Gill, the pivot, is steering the offense with 30 assists. On the backend, Branislav Mezei, with his towering presence, leads in hits and blocked shots, showing no fear in the trenches. Goalie Libor Kasik, with a 91.5% save rate, is the last line of defense, and ain't no slouch. Absentees include Jakub Lacka, out with a lower-body issue, and Brett Ritchie.
Head-to-Head
The history between these two squads is lengthy, with
HK Nitra leading the series. Most recently,
HK Vlci Zilina managed a 2-4 win against Nitra, a rare victory considering Nitra's dominance in 33 out of 45 matchups.
Recent Form
HK Vlci Zilina's past five contests:
- Nitra – Win 2:4
- Nitra – Lost 2:1
- Banska Bystrica – Win 7:1
- Banska Bystrica – Win 3:4
- Banska Bystrica – Win 2:5
HK Nitra's recent outings:
- MSHK Zilina – Lost 2:4
- MSHK Zilina – Win 2:1
- SKP Poprad – Win 2:4
- SKP Poprad – Lost 1:2
- SKP Poprad – Win 3:4
Wrap-Up
With
HK Vlci Zilina riding a wave of victories against Banska Bystrica, they’re eyeing another win against their old rivals. Nitra, though, will be eager to bounce back after a recent loss to Zilina and they’ve got the firepower to do it. The absences of Jones and Lacka might play a role, but both teams have depth to spare. Kasik and LaCouvee, guarding their creases, will be pivotal in this matchup.
Summary
Given the recent form and the historical edge,
HK Nitra might have the upper hand, but Zilina's recent triumph over Nitra and their streak against Banska Bystrica can't be ignored. It’s shaping up to be a tight one, with both teams needing to crash the net and capitalize on every chance. If Zilina's offense keeps buzzing and LaCouvee stands tall, they could tip the scales. But don't count out Nitra's resilience.
Match Odds HK Vlci Zilina – HK Nitra
Leon's odds are 2.29 on HK Vlci Zilina winning at home.
At this moment our odds are equal to 2.54 on HK Nitra visiting team's winning.
Draw odds are 4.37.
