Liptovsky Mikulas won 5-3 in Nitra, and the game was effectively decided inside the opening 20 minutes, when the visitors put up a 3-0 period. Nitra outscored them 3-2 the rest of the way but never drew level.
Sena Acolatse opened it at 3 off a Peter Sandor feed, Ryan Chyzowski made it 0-2 at 7 and Max Ferkodic finished the first-period run at 15. Dmytro Timashov pulled one back at 36, but John Jaworski restored the three-goal cushion at 39 for 1-4, and that was the turning point. Tomas Hrnka at 46 and Timashov again at 55 got Nitra within 3-4 before Acolatse sealed it at 60.
Acolatse's two goals bookended the night, and Brandon Coe was the connective tissue with three assists — on the Chyzowski, Ferkodic and Acolatse goals. Timashov's two for Nitra were the only multi-goal answer the hosts could muster.