A typically uncompromising battle between two local rivals saw Czechia rally from 0-2 against Slovakia to force a shoot-out. However, Slovakia rallied to win it thanks to a contested finish from Daniel Jencko. He converted his team's fifth attempt, making it 3-2, only for the officials to review the play. Czech goalie Michael Hrabal claimed he got a stick on the puck before Jencko shot, but the goal was awarded.

Then Samuel Urban stopped the final effort from Jakub Stancl to secure a memorable win for Slovakia on its return to the top flight.

After a such a tough battle, there was a stark contrast in emotions between the two teams. Slovakia's captain Maxim Strbak was elated by a winning start.

"I think it was a great game, really competitive and I think it was fun to watch," he said. "We stuck together, stuck to our gameplan and we played for the logo on our chests."

However, Czechia's Eduard Sale was deflated after disappointing performance from his team.

"I don't have any words," he admitted. "It was a really poor game for us. We had so many penalty kills, and that's Slovakia's game. They go high, high, high, because we're just sitting in the penalty box. That was it."

The opening stages were hard fought. There was little to choose between the teams in a classic local derby. No player wanted to yield an inch of the ice and that hard-hitting play almost inevitably led to a power play goal. Ironically, it was scored by a Czech-based player, yet went to Slovakia. Adam Cedzo is the only Slovak player currently playing across the border, with Ocelari Trinec. He connected beautifully with a one-timer from the left-hand circle after Strbak deceived the defence by faking a shot, and the puck ripped past Michael Hrabal to open the scoring.

Once in front, Slovakia gained in assurance. While the hockey remained hard-hitting, the Slovak players were able to stay out of the box and enjoy further power play opportunities. The best of those came in the 17th minute when Vojtech Vochvest followed Sale into the box, giving a two-man advantage for 31 seconds. However, there was not quite the same zip about the Slovak PP this time, and Czechia made it to the intermission with no further damage.

But the Czechs kept getting into penalty trouble, and early in the second period that saw Slovakia extend its lead. Roman Kukumberg redirected Milan Pisoja’s point shot, Hrabal lost track of the puck and Cedzo snuck in to see it over the line.

There was little evidence of Czechia as an attacking force, with the Slovaks enjoying the better of the game. However, late in the second session Adam Csabi gave his team a lifeline, scoring on only the fourth Czech shot of the period. Not surprisingly, the goal came on a breakaway. Vochvest released Adam Jecho into the Slovak zone, then Csabi waited for goalie Samuel Urban to commit himself before sliding the puck home.

Inspired, the Czechs managed to tie it up before the intermission. Sale, noted as one of the most potent forwards to come to Ajoie, got onto Pavel Simek’s pass and squeezed a shot past the attentions of defender Samuel Barcik and into the far corner of Urban’s net. However, an action-packed finish to the period ended on a sour note, with Josef Eichler crunching Tomas Pobezal head-first into the boards. The Czech defender left the game with a boarding major, handing Slovakia the initiative at the start of the third.

After killing that penalty, Czechia began to show more offence. Urban had to make three saves in quick succession to deny Martin Matejicek. At the other end, Juraj Pekarcik found himself with time in front of the Czech net, but delayed long enough for Hrabal to set himself to make the save.

"We had some chances," Sale added. "After we killed that five-minute penalty there were chances for us, but also for Slovakia. It was bang-bang hockey. But overall we played bad, we can't take so many penalties."

The Czechs came even closer with two minutes left when Jiri Felcman saw his shot rebound off the inside of the post, then Sale squandered a one-on-one against Urban as Slovakia hung on to take the game to overtime.

That led to a nerve-wracking finale, but it ended happily for Strbak and Slovakia. "It was really intense," he said. "Both the goalies were really good, but luckily so were our shooters and we're really glad we got those points."