Poprad HK beat HK 19 Humenné 4-2 in the Tatras Cup on Friday evening. The home side kept their unbeaten record intact with a straightforward win at their own rink. To be fair, the result didn't surprise many who'd been watching both sides all season.
Poprad move clear at the top of the table on points, though they've played one fewer game than Humenné. They now sit second with two wins from two, while their opponents drop to third after three outings. By then, the gap in confidence between them was visible.
The hosts come off a run of six straight wins, including two heavy victories against Katowice and a 6-0 demolition of DAB. Humenné's form has been more uneven — a 3-6 loss to Dukla Trenčín on Saturday followed mixed results from earlier in the year. They paid for a sloppy opening against Poprad.
What stands out is how Poprad's attacking output has been consistent rather than sporadic. Five goals against Prešov, five against Katowice, six against DAB — they don't rely on single moments of brilliance. Humenné, meanwhile, have hit a wall recently, especially in away fixtures.
Two points now separate the sides in the standings, and Poprad have every card to play. Humenné need to find consistency if they want to close that gap. The match itself was decided by three or four clear chances, the rest was just noise.