The quarterfinal round of the Tipsport Extraliga playoffs is set to begin with a matchup between Plzeň and Sparta on Wednesday, March 19, 2026. This highly anticipated contest will take place in Plzeň, Czech Republic.
Another key game on Wednesday features Pardubice against Kometa Brno, while Liberec will face Karlovy Vary’s Energie, and Mountfield will compete against Třinec. These opening games mark the start of a crucial phase in the Czech ice hockey league.
This season, Plzeň and Sparta have maintained an even record in their four previous encounters, each team securing a win on their opponent’s ice. Škoda ultimately emerged with a slight advantage, winning 2-0 in Prague and 4-1 at home. Sparta responded with a 6-5 victory in West Bohemia and a 3-0 win in front of their home fans. This close competition sets the stage for a thrilling playoff series.
Historically, this will be the third playoff series between the two teams. In the 2017/18 season, Sparta won in a decisive fifth game during the quarterfinal round. Ten years prior, Plzeň secured victory in the sixth game of the semifinal series, likewise in the quarterfinal round, after a period of overtime.
Leading Sparta in scoring during the regular season was Filip Chlapík, with 21 goals and 30 assists. He was supported by Michael Špaček (15 goals, 28 assists) and Michal Řepík (15 goals, 20 assists). Goalkeeping duties were shared among Jakub Kovář, Martin Michajlov, and Josef Kořenář, with Kovář achieving a save percentage just over 92%. Michajlov finished at exactly 92%, while Kořenář was slightly above 90%.
For Plzeň, Christophe Lalancette and Adam Měchura were the top performers, each contributing significantly to the team’s offense. Lalancette recorded 8 goals and 23 assists, while Měchura scored 19 goals and added 12 assists. In goal, Nick Malík and Jan Růžička shared the workload, with Malík playing more minutes and achieving a save percentage just under 93% – the highest in the league. Růžička followed closely behind with a save percentage approximately two percentage points lower.
The game is scheduled to begin at 5:30 PM local time on Wednesday. For those unable to attend the game at LOGSPEED CZ Aréna, a detailed online broadcast will be available.
