Pardubice beat Třinec in overtime thanks to Mandat's clever feint

Pardubice beat Třinec in round 10 of the Czech extraliga, with Mandat scoring the winner in overtime. The 30-year-old Jihlava product outwitted the opposition with a crafty feint, which he explained himself after the game.

A feint the goalie never read

This summer Pardubice strengthened their attack, with David Tomášek and Matěj Stránský returning from abroad. Still, the coaching staff quickly realised that Mandat remains an indispensable piece of the first line.

“Honestly, I sometimes try this feint in practice, but our defencemen already know it and knock the puck off me. I knew that if I made a burst, I would have time to manoeuvre. I turned, and… a backhand shot — just in the direction of the net. I can't say I was aiming. But if the player himself doesn't know where he's shooting, the goalie can't know either,” Mandat laughed after the game.

Třinec had no intention of giving way

After the first period Dynamo looked decent, but in the second Třinec showed that its current results are no accident. The visitors no longer want to rely on stubborn defence: they launched attractive attacks and pressed the hosts deep in their own zone. The second period ended with 12 shots on goal to three in Pardubice's favour and a 2:2 tie.

“They will definitely be our benchmark this season. Their game is no longer just dumping the puck in. I don't want to belittle them, they won plenty of titles that way, but now they are unpleasant on the forecheck. They came at us, which is why they won nine games in a row,” Mandat said, tipping his hat to the opponent.

The rivalry is growing

Matches between Pardubice and Třinec are gradually becoming an extraliga hit. The reason is their mutual playoff battles in recent years, including last spring's, when Dynamo won the title for the first time in 14 years.

“We've been meeting constantly for the last three years. It's nice to play such games, and people enjoy them too. Over the last four years they knocked us out of the playoffs twice, and we beat them in the final. The players on both sides are about equal, and the rivalry is growing. The Kovařčík brothers are close to me, and David Musil played for us. There are also guys there I don't like much, but I won't name them. Still, it's always a game with extra motivation,” Mandat admitted.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz