Košice Complete Stunning Comeback, Edge Banská Bystrica 3–1 in Game 7

HC Košice powered into the Tipsport liga semifinals with a commanding 3–1 victory over HC MONACObet Banská Bystrica at a sold-out Steel Aréna on March 30, 2026, completing one of the most remarkable comeback stories in recent Slovak playoff history.

A Fast Start Sets the Tone

With 6,998 fans roaring them on, Košice made their intentions clear immediately. Just four minutes in, Rogoň — set up smartly by Šedivý — beat the Banská Bystrica netminder to open the scoring. For a Banská Bystrica side already shorn of Roman Faith (serving a one-game suspension for an illegal hit) and Dávid Šoltés (sidelined by injury), conceding so early in a winner-take-all match was a damaging blow.

The hosts dominated possession and territory through the opening twenty minutes, with the visitors struggling to string passes together under relentless pressure. At 1–0 after the first period, Košice had full control.

The Second Period Decides It

The second stanza proved decisive. In the 27th minute, Petráš swept home a lovely combination play, receiving passes from Mikúš and Jellúš to make it 2–0 and functionally settle the tie. Košice continued to press, and in the 36th minute Liščinský — on assists from Ferenc and Šedivý — buried the third to put the game well beyond Banská Bystrica's reach.

The visitors had no answer. Depleted and psychologically scarred by their failure to close out a 3–1 series lead in three successive matches, Banská Bystrica could not rediscover the form that had seen them dominate the early rounds of the series.

A Late Consolation, but the Job Was Done

Banská Bystrica managed their only goal in the 58th minute, Kukuča finally beating the Košice keeper to make it 3–1, but it was nothing more than a consolation. Neither side converted on the power play — Košice conceded three minutes, Banská Bystrica four — as both teams played a largely disciplined contest decided entirely at even strength.

The final buzzer confirmed a 3–1 Košice win and a 4–3 series victory.

What It Means

Košice's turnaround from 1–3 down to series winners is among the finest playoff escapes in the Tipsport liga's recent history. The defending champions looked all but eliminated before rallying with three straight wins, including two overtime victories, to force and then dominate a decisive Game 7.

Banská Bystrica — the Barani — exit a campaign in which they showed genuine quality but could not hold their nerve when the title was within their grasp. Roman Faith's suspension and Dávid Šoltés' injury robbed them of depth at the worst possible moment.

Košice now face HC Slovan Bratislava in the Tipsport liga semifinals, with the defending champions carrying fresh momentum and growing belief that another title run is within reach.