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Sparta coach Jandac: We can't always have festivals of scores

Home team coach likes his team getting better on the defense, and the offense was never even questionable. Pardubice is getting back an important forward Marha

Sparta played against what should have been a very tough team to beat. Zlina team were coming to their ice, and beside being a current champion, they also have a grate ratio against the Prague team, especially in the away games. Josef Jandac team showed this Sparta is a different Sparta than the one from the previous seasons. First of all, they're really powerful on the offense. Their offense is the strongest on in the current championship not only on paper, but also in reality. With 53 scores in 12 games they are the most efficient team in the league, but after winning Zlina, they're also the best when it comes to points.

Once again, it seems like Zlina curse came over Sparta, because they didn't start the game playing their best. Even though the guests were more active, Prague club scored first. It helped them mentally, just like when they scored for 3-1 a second before the end of the second period. It was a key moment that gave them the advantage in the game.

- We didn't start the match well, the opponent had a few chances, but unlike some previous games, we started to lead and didn't have to be evening it out. Our goalie saved us a few times in the second period, when the opponent had counter offense moves, but the key for the win was saving the boxplay in the first period, when we played 3 on 4 for a long time, and also scoring for 3-1 - coach Jandac admitted it, too.

This win made Sparta come to the first position of the league table, but now they have a difficult job to do against the runner-up of the league, Pardubice. They'll show some muscle in front of their fans. Jandac's team won 18 out of 21 possible team. Their only defeat happened against Vitkovice. 

- Pardubice are a great opponent, and I believe they'll confirm it on the ice, but we will win. I don't care we're currently the first on the table, two mistakes and we could be down - Sparta coach is restraining the euphoria, and he added:

- I appreciate us getting better defensively. We played a lot of up-and-down hockey before that, and there were a lot of goals, but those festivals can't go on forever. 

The experienced defenseman Pilar missed a few last games for Sparta, and there is no information whether he recovered from the injury. Also, it's unknown if the important forward Rolinek is getting better from his viral infection.

Pardubice had a nice row of five consecutive wins until last Friday. The series got them higher on the champion league table, and that is the reason why they're the second team on it. But, they didn't do it the right way on the away game at Trinec. It was the first time in this season, that the offensively powerful team didn't score even once. Of course, when something like that happens, it's hard expect they could go through and win an extremely difficult away game. Generally, it was a really bad offensive image, with only 17 shots directed to the opponent's goal, and none out of six powerplays used. 

- The result was pretty much decided in the first period, where the home team were excellent. We started hoping in the first ten minutes of the second period, we started it well, but didn't manage to use it. After that, it was difficult to reduce the difference in the score, and the home team were that good, and they managed to stay in the lead - Pardubice coach Zdenek Vener pointed out.

Pardubice won at least one point on each away game until the game against Trinec, and now, the "drought" could easily go on, at least when it comes to the away games. They have an even more difficult duel to face, playing away against the best home team of the league, Sparta. 

- We're looking forward to a game, it will be difficult. Sparta are a great team, especially on the offense. They have a line-up of players who can easily score, and who are powerful on the defense - Pardubice coach said. He'll be getting back an experienced forward Marha, who was out for a short while.

- We will know the official line-up on the day of the game. We have the most problems with the fourth line, it keeps changing because we have to comply with the rule of keeping a junior in- Venera pointed out.

A little advantage for his team could be the fact that they played their last game on Sunday, and Sparta was on the ice only two days before, on Wednesday.

- They could be a bit more tired because of that, but on the other hand, they could also feel more playful - Pardubice coach added. His team don't give any news about the comeback of the young offense players Cip and Spacek. 

Today we have clash of two most efficient teams in the league, and even though the home coach announces that the fans in Prague will not see a goalfest every time, I am convinced this is exactly what will happen. Sparta and Pardubice and their game style guarantee such games. Sparta scores amazing 4.33 goals per game at home, Pardubice score 2.82 away, but stats are not everything. Sparta are defensively not as convincing as they could be, as they concede 2 goals per game at home, and they even conceded 6 goal against Vitkovice. I do not expect that to happen, but Sykor, Marh and co. from Pardubice will probably score more than one. Sparta will do their part as Pardubice concede 2.7 goals per away game, and their other opponents cannot be compared with their opponents for today in terms of offense.