Playoff hockey

The NHL is still a couple of weeks away from the playoffs (and the Montreal Canadiens are fighting for first place in the Eastern Conference), but the Czech Extraliga is already in full playoff mode. Chelsey and I went to a quarterfinal matchup last week between the defending champion, Sparta Praha, and the "White Tigers" of Liberec. Sparta was already trailing 2-0 in the best-of-seven series and desperately needed a win at home to stay in the series. Unfortunately for the home fans, Liberec struck first, but Sparta tied it in the final minute of the second period with a nice breakaway goal. The Bílí Tygři went back on top with two bad-bounce goals in the span of about three minutes to put the pressure on the home side. Sparta pulled one back on the powerplay but couldn't get the equalizer. Their efforts were hampered when one of their best forwards, Petr Ton, left with an injury and didn't return.
Liberec won again the next night, which probably pleased the fan wearing the white tiger on his head and also eliminated Sparta. The other Prague team, Slavia, won their quarterfinal series, so if we see any more hockey this season it will probably be a Slavia game.
-Jason