Nitra continued their dominant form in the Tipsport Liga, defeating HC Prešov 8-6 in a thrilling, high-scoring encounter on Friday, March 6, 2026. The match, played in front of a crowd of 3003, saw a total of 14 goals scored, marking a season high for the league. Nitra also received the Dušan Pašek trophy prior to the game, recognizing them as the winners of the regular season. They currently hold a seven-point lead over Slovan Bratislava with one game remaining in the regular season.
The home side exploded in the first period, establishing a commanding 4-0 lead. While Prešov mounted a comeback in the second, narrowing the gap, two quick goals from Josh Passolt within ten seconds effectively sealed the victory for Nitra. The offensive fireworks continued into the third period, with both teams finding the back of the net.
First Period Dominance Sets the Tone
Nitra wasted no time asserting their dominance, scoring four unanswered goals in the opening frame. Čederle opened the scoring at 6:00, assisted by Lacka and Vitaloš. Buček followed up at 12:00, with assists from Paulovič and Mezei. Jackson extended the lead at 15:00, capitalizing on passes from Lawrence and Osburn, and Hrnka rounded out the first-period scoring at 20:00, assisted by Osburn and Bajtek.
Passolt’s Quickfire Goals Break the Game Open
Prešov showed resilience in the second period, attempting to claw their way back into the game. Avcin scored at 25:00 (assisted by Brejčák), followed by Hamráček at 28:00 (Maruna and Valigura) and Bukarts at 31:00 (Indrašis and Cormier). Though, Nitra responded emphatically. Josh Passolt scored twice in rapid succession – at 38:00 (Krištof and Graham) and again at 39:00 (Lacka and Čederle) – to restore a comfortable lead for the home team.
Goals Continue to Fall in the Final Frame
The scoring didn’t relent in the third period. Jackson added his second goal of the night for Nitra at 41:00, assisted by Lawrence. Valigura scored for Prešov at 47:00 (Feranec and Brejčák), followed by Semaňák at 50:00 (Kadyrov and Avcin). Lacka extended Nitra’s lead at 52:00, with assists from Čederle and Passolt. Bukarts completed the scoring for Prešov at 60:00, assisted by Cormier and Kadyrov. The final score stood at 8-6 in favor of Nitra.
The officiating team for the match included Novák and Klejna as referees, with Tichý and Kacej serving as linesmen. There was one minor penalty assessed to each team (2 minutes each), and no powerplay goals were scored (0 for 1).
Lineups
Nitra: Ferguson – Mezei, Osburn, Carmichael, Graham, Stacha, Vitaloš, Bača – Buček, Krištof, Paulovič – Jackson, Chrenko, Lawrence – Passolt, Čederle, Lacka – Bajtek, Hrnka, Kováč
Prešov: Vyletelka (39: Kozel) – Nátny, Brincko, Brejčák, Kadyrov, Macejko, Semaňák, Chatrnúch – Bukarts, Cormier, Indrašis – Avcin, Frič, Hamráček – Feranec, Bortňák, Valigura – Jokeľ, Maruna, Blaško
This victory solidifies Nitra’s position at the top of the Tipsport Liga standings. The team will appear to finish the regular season strong in their final game. Prešov, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and improve their performance as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.
What impact will Nitra’s regular season success have on their playoff performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
